Summary
- Hamm almost lost out on his career-defining role in
Mad Men
after previously losing out on a role in
The West Wing
to Rob Lowe. - Hamm was worried about being cast in
Mad Men
, recalling a past experience of reading a script he loved but not getting the part he wanted. - While Hamm felt that people misunderstood Don Draper’s character, his portrayal brought critical acclaim and awards, propelling him to success in various genres.
While Jon Hamm became synonymous with Don Draper in Mad Men, a previous audition experience almost left him feeling defeated before landing the iconic role. Having previously auditioned for the role of Sam Seaborn on The West Wing, a part he truly desired but went to Rob Lowe, Hamm worried history might repeat itself during the Mad Men audition process. During a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Hamm discussed feeling like he’d never get cast in Mad Men.
“I got the ‘
Mad Men’
script, and I was like, ‘Sh-t, this is really good.’ And it’s a good lesson in not getting ahead of yourself because I remember thinking, ‘They’re never going to cast me.’ Because I’d had an experience with another really good script that I read and I was like, ‘I would do anything to get this part.'”
When asked what part he was mentioning, he elaborated:
“It was ‘
The West Wing’
. Rob Lowe’s character, Sam. I thought, ‘I could murder this part.’ And I was great in the audition, but I saw the casting director’s face, and I knew this part’s already cast. Then it was like, ‘Oh, it’s Rob Lowe. OK, I get it.’ So I thought the same thing would happen on ‘
Mad Men
.’ I’ll give a great audition, and they’ll give it to a movie star. The first time I went in, I was the only person auditioning, it was so early in the process. And then as I’d go back in and go back in, I started seeing names that I recognized on the sign-in sheet.”
The Complex Don Draper
As it turns out, Lowe was “under consideration” for the role of Don Draper. The actor never auditioned, as Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner wanted to avoid a big name leading the show. That worked to Hamm’s “tremendous benefit.” While Hamm had roles in shows like Providence and films including Kissing Jessica Stein and We Were Soldiers, Don Draper was, undoubtedly, his breakout role. From 2007 to 2015, Hamm brought Don Draper to life – the haunted yet charismatic ad executive. His portrayal garnered immense critical acclaim, including an Emmy Award and two Golden Globes.
Despite the success, portraying Don Draper, a character deeply flawed by infidelity and emotional detachment, wasn’t always easy for Hamm.
“Jimmy Gandolfini, whom I knew a little bit, had a similar relationship to Tony Soprano, and Bryan Cranston had it with Walter White. The character got celebrated for the wrong reasons. People thought that Don was this paragon of masculinity or whatever. There were so many think-pieces, and you go, ‘Wait, he was pretty f—ed up.’ And I was very happy with how Matt ended the story, but it was also hard.”
Related Jon Hamm Reveals He’s Pitched Himself for Roles in the MCU: ‘I Should Be the Guy’
The star of Mad Men says that he’s a “comic book nerd,” and revealed that he’s pitched himself for specific parts in the MCU, but so far to no avail.
Since Mad Men concluded in 2015, Hamm has carved out a successful career demonstrating versatility. He’s appeared in comedies like Keeping Up With the Joneses and Confess, Fletch; action flicks Baby Driver and Top Gun: Maverick; and thrillers Beirut and Bad Times at the El Royale. He recently reprised the role of Don Draper for Jerry Seinfeld’s Unfrosted. On television, Hamm has appeared in Fargo and The Morning Show, which have earned him praise and award nominations.
Hamm will next appear in
Transformers One
, where he voices Sentinel Prime.
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