arriving at Aol Build Series Studio in New-York
BUILD Series
Natalie Portman, Jon Hamm & Director Noah Hawley Talk About Their Film, "Lucy in the Sky"
RICHARD JEWELL - Official Trailer [HD]
Hamm was at the New York Premiere of The King....
"The cast was joined by the likes of Patti Smith, Jon Hamm, and Kelly Rutherford for the film screening."
Natalie Portman’s mom recognizes Jon Hamm, but not from the movies l GMA
Jon Hamm talks about the perfect Sunday, impact of ‘Mad Men’
Review-Journal: What is an ideal Sunday for you?
Jon Hamm: I’m a sports guy. I’m athletic. I’ve always loved moving because it’s good for your body and your mind. I play baseball in a league in L.A. with a bunch of over-40 guys whose goal is basically not to get hurt. A Sunday game is a great Sunday. Afterward, a good Sunday might be a baseball game on TV. I do appreciate a little couch time if I can get it.
You were born in St. Louis, graduated from the University of Missouri, then taught high school.
I graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English. I wanted to act, but I spent time teaching acting at my old high school in St. Louis before I decided to move to Hollywood. I still think teaching is one of the greatest and most important jobs on the planet. But I wanted to take a chance and felt that I could always come back and teach if acting went sideways.
Did you have $20 in your pocket when you crossed the Los Angeles city limits?
I had about $150 in my pocket when I got to California. It wasn’t easy because I lost my mom at age 9 and my dad at 20. I came to L.A. without a support system back home. After my dad died, I had no rudder and it was a tough time in general. So when I moved West, I had to figure it out on my own, along with some great friends and their families, who really helped. Meanwhile, I got a job as a waiter, lived on some friends’ couches and didn’t book any jobs for about three years. I gave myself until I was 30 to keep at it before going back to St. Louis. Luckily, it worked out.
How did your life change with “Mad Men?”
It was a quantum leap in my career and life. All of a sudden, I was hosting “SNL” and meeting Tina Fey. It was amazing, but that kind of thing also comes with some craziness. So many people are pulling at you. Everyone wants a piece of whatever the hot thing is at the time. You have to manage it. But it was really fulfilling on so many levels.
What was the appeal of Don Draper in “Mad Men”?
Don was the American dream. At the same time, he was an incredibly damaged human being. He was a self-made man who won with his ambition and creativity, but also failed miserably at life. He made bad decisions about his wives and children while remaining brilliant in business. He gets it wrong, but that’s okay. He’s not a superhero, which was the appeal. That’s what I loved about him. His struggles and wrong decisions made him human.
Do fans still ask about “Mad Men”?
People still want to talk about the show. They don’t just want to talk about Don. They want to get into long discussions about Peggy and Roger and Joan, too. The fact that the public still wants to talk about these characters is the most obvious expression of being invested in something. It’s the ultimate compliment for an actor.
What about the drinking and the smoking?
The cigarettes were not real. They were a blend of some kind of herbs and spices that burn and look real, but there is no nicotine, no tar and they were non-addictive. By the way, the booze was also fake. We’d never get through a day if it was real booze. I’d be like, “Excuse me, I’ll be taking a nap.”
You were nominated eight times for an Emmy for “Mad Men” and won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2015.
I didn’t expect to win — ever. It was lovely to be honored, but just as amazing to be on those lists of nominees with that kind of talent each year.
You’ve said that you don’t want to play another character like Don.
My main goal afterward was to make sure that I didn’t play some version of Don Draper again. I think a tiny part of you thinks, “I’ll never work again” or “I’ll never work at that level again.” But it’s up to you as an actor to find the great work.
Is acting a tough job?
I always say that acting is not the hardest job in the world. That doesn’t mean that anyone can do it. What my dad did for a living (managing a family trucking company) was work. I’m extremely lucky.
Maybe Coming Soon With Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm Met Donald Trump At An SNL Afterparty
aouch !
Hollywood stars Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan and Jon Hamm happily posed for photos with restaurant staff as they enjoyed a night out in Mayo on Thursday.
The actors, who are in Ballina filming a new movie, had dinner at Jalan Jalan restaurant after making a reservation under the fake name, Karen.
Camp Confessions with Jon Hamm
aouch ! aouch !
THE REPORT Trailer #2
ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Blues are set to debut a nine-episode series titled The Science of Blues Hockey, with St. Louis superfan Jon Hamm as your guide.
Blues' team doctors and physicians will give you a behind the scenes look at what it takes to keep the Blues in the best possible condition as well as explain what's happening on the ice beyond the game itself.
Episodes cover topics such as joints and ligaments, the neurology behind making a save, injuries from slapshots, training science and how professional athletes' brains compare to the rest of us.
The series is set to premiere in-game on Thursday Oct. 17 with new episodes being released throughout the season.
All episodes will be available on stlouisblues.com/scienceofhockey
Dorman, Blunt....in Ireland
Jon Hamm ACOA Witnessed by AutographCOA Authentication
Do you know a man in the world who knows how to wear a suit better than Jon Hamm? If it exists, I never met him. The brilliant publicist Don Draper's interpreter, for seven seasons on AMC, has become the very face of male elegance and the art of combining a tie with a suit. In 2008 he was named one of the sexiest living men in the world by People. And yet, in everyday life, Jon Hamm has a casual style. He lives in Los Angeles, but not in the Hollywood hills or Beverly Hills. Play baseball in his neighborhood where he leads a simple life, like a true Midwestern man.
Hamm, an orphan of both parents at a young age, faced many difficulties before succeeding. He worked as a middle school teacher immediately after graduating, but once in Los Angeles he spent three long years without getting a single gig. After the last series of Mad Men, in 2015, he put himself to the test in various leading roles and in supporting dramas and comedies. 2019 and 2020 seem to indicate that his career is at a new turning point, with a starring role alongside Natalie Portman and a part in the Top Gun sequel. We took this opportunity to meet him in Los Angeles and talk about the beautiful ways of the people of his parts.
I know you like to describe yourself as a polite Midwestern man. What is this culture of your places and how does it differ from that of the West? In New York, I happened to talk to people who work with Brad Pitt, and at one point, everyone came up with: "He's such a polite Midwestern boy."
Then there is not all this difference, I think. We have only a little more phlegm than those who live in New York or Los Angeles. Let's say that the family counts a lot. Many of those born there, then remain. While the coasts are full of people who are there to reinvent themselves, in search of fame, fortune or something else. In the Midwest, people are more rooted, they have a more parochial and relaxed attitude. Even more conservative.
Does a Saint-Louis jargon exist?
Of course! Every city and even town uses particular expressions. There is a Midwestern accent. Chicago and St. Louis have specific sounds, everyone says a lot about Oh Gosh! Who is from Chicago, says that St. Louis is the last stop before finding a true southern accent.
Of course! Every city and even town uses particular expressions. There is a Midwestern accent. Chicago and St. Louis have specific sounds, everyone says a lot about Oh Gosh! Who is from Chicago, says that St. Louis is the last stop before finding a true southern accent.
I knew you had moved to Los Angeles at age 25, but only recently did I hear that you did the whole trip from St. Louis driving a Toyota Corolla. More than a car trip! How did it come to you?
My job as a teacher was over and I spent the summer in St. Louis. So I pointed the car hood to the west. And I didn't stop until I arrived in California. It's a pretty long journey ... But I had to do it, I felt it was time. I didn't have the money to take a plane. I loaded the car with everything that could be there and went west. I was scared, and even discouraged, because I didn't really have a job waiting for me. I just thought, "Well, time will certainly not make me younger, better to do it now that I can." And I did it.
My job as a teacher was over and I spent the summer in St. Louis. So I pointed the car hood to the west. And I didn't stop until I arrived in California. It's a pretty long journey ... But I had to do it, I felt it was time. I didn't have the money to take a plane. I loaded the car with everything that could be there and went west. I was scared, and even discouraged, because I didn't really have a job waiting for me. I just thought, "Well, time will certainly not make me younger, better to do it now that I can." And I did it.
Do you remember what went through your mind during that trip?
"I hope to get there!" The car was not really a great machine. We are talking about a 1986 Toyota Corolla, which gave me a lot of problems during the trip. The engine constantly overheated. Exhausting.
"I hope to get there!" The car was not really a great machine. We are talking about a 1986 Toyota Corolla, which gave me a lot of problems during the trip. The engine constantly overheated. Exhausting.
It is known that you had to wait three years for a part. Do you remember how you lived it?
Moving to California was difficult. Los Angeles is a much larger city than where I come from. It was basically a question of avoiding being swallowed up by the environment. It's not easy. Realizing that here is full of people who are trying, just like you are doing, is very useful. And many of them even have more numbers than you.
Moving to California was difficult. Los Angeles is a much larger city than where I come from. It was basically a question of avoiding being swallowed up by the environment. It's not easy. Realizing that here is full of people who are trying, just like you are doing, is very useful. And many of them even have more numbers than you.
And knowledge ...
Knowledge, experience, etc. etc. Terrifying, from a certain point of view. But you think: "Ok, I'm just looking, rightly, for my road in the world". But it was difficult to maintain any momentum, because L.A. it is a place where inertia easily takes over. In this he knows how to be scary. You keep hoping to make it. There is no other way. It took three years. I was a bartender, a waiter. But I never forgot why I came here, that is, pursuing an acting career.
Knowledge, experience, etc. etc. Terrifying, from a certain point of view. But you think: "Ok, I'm just looking, rightly, for my road in the world". But it was difficult to maintain any momentum, because L.A. it is a place where inertia easily takes over. In this he knows how to be scary. You keep hoping to make it. There is no other way. It took three years. I was a bartender, a waiter. But I never forgot why I came here, that is, pursuing an acting career.
I interviewed Michael Douglas and he confessed to being amazed that some people consider Gordon Geckko a model to follow, almost like a modern super hero, while he tried to make him a real villain, "one who was thrown in prison". I was wondering if the same thing happened to you with Don Draper, if the way people lived your character surprised you.
Yes. To be honest, it seems to me that one lives rather in the world of anti-heroes. I find it bizarre that people recognize themselves in these guys who don't know what they want and what they do. What makes people like Gordon Geckko, Don Draper or the Walter White of Breaking Bad so interesting is that they reflect human complexity. In the world there is space for "entirely good" people, such as superheroes. But also for those who think: "Oh yes, this guy makes mistakes, but like all of us". Don Draper does not know who he is, what he should do or who he is with, which makes him an interesting character, which involves the spectators.
Yes. To be honest, it seems to me that one lives rather in the world of anti-heroes. I find it bizarre that people recognize themselves in these guys who don't know what they want and what they do. What makes people like Gordon Geckko, Don Draper or the Walter White of Breaking Bad so interesting is that they reflect human complexity. In the world there is space for "entirely good" people, such as superheroes. But also for those who think: "Oh yes, this guy makes mistakes, but like all of us". Don Draper does not know who he is, what he should do or who he is with, which makes him an interesting character, which involves the spectators.
A few months ago I saw Seven Unknowns in El Royale and loved it. It's a dark comedy with a touch of noir. Almost tarantinesca. How did you prepare for your part?
It's an interesting film. Exciting. It is an original story, as many are not seen any more. Most of the great studio films are now taken from a book, a comic book, a game. The director of that film, Drew Goddard, is a very talented, very interesting person. He made a beautiful film. The way he mastered the narrative is surprising. Once we went to the movies to be amazed, to be enchanted by the story though, not by computer-generated images or special effects.
It's an interesting film. Exciting. It is an original story, as many are not seen any more. Most of the great studio films are now taken from a book, a comic book, a game. The director of that film, Drew Goddard, is a very talented, very interesting person. He made a beautiful film. The way he mastered the narrative is surprising. Once we went to the movies to be amazed, to be enchanted by the story though, not by computer-generated images or special effects.
Your character looks like a good man, but in the end he is not so good.
You are in the Top Gun sequel. What did the original film mean to you? I think you saw him in the eighties, right? What part are you doing and how was it working in that movie?
The original version came out in 1985, so I was 15, the ideal age to see it. There were supersonic aircraft, fast cars and pretty girls. It was a watershed film, not only for the spectators, but also for Tom Cruise and his career. That guy has been a movie star for four decades! And it continues to be! For me it is a real honor to have been called to be part of it because it is an iconic piece of the history of cinema. And I enjoyed my little role. I saw the shot, it's spectacular. I rarely work in productions with a big budget, so impressive. It was nice.
The original version came out in 1985, so I was 15, the ideal age to see it. There were supersonic aircraft, fast cars and pretty girls. It was a watershed film, not only for the spectators, but also for Tom Cruise and his career. That guy has been a movie star for four decades! And it continues to be! For me it is a real honor to have been called to be part of it because it is an iconic piece of the history of cinema. And I enjoyed my little role. I saw the shot, it's spectacular. I rarely work in productions with a big budget, so impressive. It was nice.
Have you done many flights?
No, no. Fortunately, it was not necessary. Those who did, have all my respect, they had to do a lot of training.
No, no. Fortunately, it was not necessary. Those who did, have all my respect, they had to do a lot of training.
The original film is representative of an era in which he turned without a hint of irony or sarcasm. There is a certain naivety in Top Gun that makes it fascinating in its own way. Today, even children's films are made to entertain parents, there are always many levels of reading. Does the sequel have the same atmosphere as the original or a more contemporary style?
The great thing about Top Gun is that public appreciation is guaranteed. It's a funny movie where everything you expect happens. Hunting fights and snappy dialogues. It is suitable for everyone. Even to those who have not seen the original.
The great thing about Top Gun is that public appreciation is guaranteed. It's a funny movie where everything you expect happens. Hunting fights and snappy dialogues. It is suitable for everyone. Even to those who have not seen the original.
Your most recent projects are very varied. For example, now not only do you live in the City of Angels, but you play an angel on TV. How was Good Omens born? What prompted you to return to television? There is a lot of British humor in that series, different from your other works.
Yes, interesting. Good Omens is more a mini-series than a normal TV program. There are not so many mini-series around. I really appreciate it, it's a nice way to tell a story. And this is exciting: I loved the book!
Yes, interesting. Good Omens is more a mini-series than a normal TV program. There are not so many mini-series around. I really appreciate it, it's a nice way to tell a story. And this is exciting: I loved the book!
I play Denis McDonough, who played an important role in the Obama administration. At the time there were many abuses, all under the pretext "we have to do it because of terrorism, otherwise we risk another 11 September". There was so much hysteria about the future and this meant that mistakes were also made. What the film tries to say is "yes, we have done several but at least, in this particular case, we have talked about it". We knew that, ok, we were not allowed to do it and we shouldn't have. Which leads you to think that the system at least works. Our government has shown itself to be responsible, albeit in a circumstantial way, but it has done so, and it is important. It counts, especially today, where it seems that nobody cares about anything. Everything becomes a quarrel. That is not how it should be, there should be more responsibility.
It is not your first political film. You were the protagonist of Beirut, for example. Are you a fan of the political dramas of the 70s like All the men of the President?
Yes sure. I think it's a shame that you don't do that kind of movie anymore. They are a way to inform people. A kind of lost art. People have very different tastes now. I love feeling part of something in which there are stories to tell. Because today they are scarce.
In autumn you have one exit after another. In Lucy In The Sky, another film about flying, you play the part of an astronaut, with Natalie Portman.
It's a very interesting story, vaguely based on a news story. But a little more philosophical than that. He questions what happens when our perspective changes drastically and there is no one with whom we can really confide. Astronauts have difficulty returning to Earth, many can testify to it. Their perspective has changed radically and they have seen things they cannot talk to anyone about. It is a very small brotherhood of people. As veterans of war; the difference is that there are many more soldiers. The amount of people going into space and back is minimal compared to the rest. But I knew I could trust Noah Hawley, the director, and Natalie is perfect in the role.
It's a very interesting story, vaguely based on a news story. But a little more philosophical than that. He questions what happens when our perspective changes drastically and there is no one with whom we can really confide. Astronauts have difficulty returning to Earth, many can testify to it. Their perspective has changed radically and they have seen things they cannot talk to anyone about. It is a very small brotherhood of people. As veterans of war; the difference is that there are many more soldiers. The amount of people going into space and back is minimal compared to the rest. But I knew I could trust Noah Hawley, the director, and Natalie is perfect in the role.
Once, speaking of the #metoo, you said: "We men must now listen".
It is not just what women have said, I believe the whole company is committing itself to correct the course in a very positive way. What I really appreciated in the #metoo affair is that perhaps we are learning to take a moment, before getting on the pedestal and before saying that someone is right or wrong. Whether you are male or female, or whatever your gender or race, it is important to realize that other people think differently. To deny it or not to give importance to this is foolish.
It is not just what women have said, I believe the whole company is committing itself to correct the course in a very positive way. What I really appreciated in the #metoo affair is that perhaps we are learning to take a moment, before getting on the pedestal and before saying that someone is right or wrong. Whether you are male or female, or whatever your gender or race, it is important to realize that other people think differently. To deny it or not to give importance to this is foolish.
Does it become easier or more difficult to fall in love when you get older?
Oh mom, the question of questions! I think it depends on where you are in life. When you are young you think "Ah, I understood everything" and life has its own way of showing you that this is not exactly the case. You can easily fall in love at 16 as at 70. Certainly the perspective when you're older in the years is different, but it's still fantastic.
(From Esquire Italia 6, on newsstands from October 2019)
https://www.esquire.com/it/cultura/icone/a29574123/jon-hamm-intervista-cartaceo/
The Governors Awards is a gala dinner at which the Academy now presents its special awards — an honorary Oscar.....
Olivia Wilde and Jon Hamm pose together at 2019 Governors Ball
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZpJzYtFE6k
Mr Hamm was at the After Party of Motherless Brooklyn by Edward Norton
that's a real flop
