Hot on the heels of his GQ cover, actor Jon Hamm connects with Variety to discuss the final season of Mad Men as well as life after Don Draper. Recently completing treatment for alcohol addiction, Hamm explains that playing Draper is not easy. He explains, “Playing this guy does not come without its own difficulties. It’s not fun to live in this guy’s headspace year after year. And [showrunner] Matt [Weiner] will tell you, the darkness in Don has not abated, it’s gotten worse year after year. It’s relentless. And it can be hard on you as a person. I love coming to work; I love the people I work with. But it’s been rough.” The 44 year-old actor also confesses that it’s not easy to escape Draper professionally, discussing other roles he has been offered: “They were a guy in a hat, a guy with a cigarette, a guy in a suit, a hard-boiled detective–dark, brooding, alcoholic womanizers. I do that eight months out of the year. That’s not all I can do.”
Now that the dust is settling for Mad Men, Hamm is looking forward to expanding his horizons, particularly with comedy. Hamm has guest starred on 30 Rock as well as the recent Netflix hit The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He will also appear in the upcoming comedy Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. Although Hamm is having fun doing lighter roles than Draper, he still worries. He shares, “I’m afraid I’ve spent my good acting capital doing silly, nonsensical things. I hope I’ll get another chance to play a part as deep and varied and emotional and real as Don was.” Read more on Variety.com.
