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Jon Hamm: In Conversation

19 March 2012
BAFTA / Jamie Simonds

Mad Men star Jon Hamm discusses landing the role of Don Draper in the phenomenally popular TV series as well moving his career into the film world.

Set in 1960s New York, Mad Men chronicles the lives of a bunch of sharp-suited, savvy-minded Madison Avenue ad men and their colleagues, wives, girlfriends and mistresses. After four stunning seasons, the BAFTA and multi-award winning drama from Matthew Weiner (The Sopranos) prepares to enter its highly anticipated fifth on Sky Atlantic HD this March.

It’s not a mistake that the whole series starts on Peggy’s first day at work. She is the character through whose eyes we see most of the show.

In anticipation of the new season, leading actor Jon Hamm (Don Draper) gave a special BAFTA interview at the Curzon cinema in Soho, London. In conversation with broadcaster Jo Whiley, he spoke about his early career as a set dresser trying to break into acting, how he landed the role of Don, and what working on the Mad Men set is like. He also shared his thoughts about his character's essential 'dishonesty' and examined Don's relationship towards copywriter Peggy Olsen.