Despite all of his flaws and being so deeply damaged I love Don Draper. I think he self medicates too much with booze and sex,and he could probably benefit from some therapy. Still I can't help but love this guy even though sometimes I think Don has no love for himself. However, at the end of the day when it's all said and done I believe Don is worth it, him and all of his troubles. How do you feel about Don as an actor ,and do you feel differently about him as a viewer? And we know your watching the show it is too good for you not to be.

Dear Jon Hamm:

Your acting is so phenomenally believable. I cried when you cried while telling Betts about Adam. What event or happening in your life did you draw upon to bring about the emotion? Or do you draw upon the emotion of playing Don Draper?

I love your show, it is the best show ever to appear on television and you are one of the finest actors I've had the pleasure to see.

Adell or dellielovesdon

Do you find it especially challenging to portray a character who, both because of the times and the character's personality, holds a lot of what he is feeling back and does not express what he is thinking very openly? Much of your performance must rely on body language and non-verbal cues and is that especially satisfying as an actor or not?

Do you find it especially challenging to portray a character who, both because of the times and the character's personality, holds a lot of what he is feeling back and does not express what he is thinking very openly? Much of your performance must rely on body language and non-verbal cues and is that especially satisfying as an actor or not?

In the Halloween episode, I felt an immense relief for Don Drapers character as he was finally able to divulge his past to Betty and peel away that layer of false identity that often separated them. At the same time, I felt at a loss for the plot development of our beloved leading man as nearly every dirty flaw he carries~ be it womanizing, manipulation, self-abuse, withdrawal, etc stems from this underlying theme. Obviously this was a huge advancement as Don Draper the character, but also the end of an era. How do you think this milestone will change his character moving forward and will we ever see the old Don again? I sort of liked his secrets where they were...

I'd like to know if he likes websites.

I'd like to know if he likes websites.

Has your character influenced any particular part of your life or taught you something, if yes how so ?

What actors of this or prior generations do you admire? Are there 'classic roles' you'd like to take on, whether on film or stage?

I am also a lifetime Saint Louisan. My son is a theatre major at Mizzou and was the lead in the fall musical "The Grass Harp", directed by Jeff Miller. How did Mizzou's education prepare you for the roles you have played, and what pearls of wisdom could you impart that helped you make it through ten years of struggle to enter the acting world? You are an incredible actor - and it seems like you personally are very laid back and relaxed, where Don Draper is very tense and stressed all the time, even during his sexual escapades.

It is through your character as Don Draper that I was only able to understand my father, and his relationship with my mom while they were still together. Like Don my father had his share of wine, women and song, maybe even up to this day. I've always wondered if it was ever my mom's fault and through your role as Don, I've come to realize that it had nothing to do with her at all. Since you get to live Don's life in the small screen, do you ever see yourself taking home those behaviors? Or does the experience equip you with the knowledge, on what to avoid with your relations and interactions in real life?

Don the person is such a bleak character--self destructive in so many ways (smoking, drinking, womanizing, lying), without a "real" identity (coverups everywhere), in a job that requires no real background and consists of selling no real thing (except desire, perhaps)---and Jon the actor does such a phenomenal job embodying this sad, empty guy... I wonder what Jon's process was in creating the character? What's more interesting to me is how did Jon manage to make him someone we all care about?

And lastly, how does Jon avoid carrying this emotional heaviness home with him?

Thanks for a gripping series!

Abby Brody

how has your life changed since mad men. how is your and don drappers life similar. also how has your perception of the decade and your job changed or not

Also thanks for being in such a great show. this is one of the only shows i can watch that my parents watch. we use to watch it together and even though im in college we call each other after we watch and discuss it lol. thanks for such a great show

Jon,
I was intrigued by how you would (and ultimately DID) navigate the collision of Don's past and present lives - what a huge artistic challenge!
MY QUESTION:
Sometimes we hate Don, but we ultimately root for him. Do you worry about the audience perception or would you be prepared for a script that would make Don a true villain? How do you balance Don Draper's indiscretions and flaws with his vulnerability?
Thanks!

It must be challenging to play a character who is so multi faceted, relaxed and tense, deceiving and loving.
Does any part of Don's character ring a bell with you personally?

You are an INCREDIBLE actor, just wondering what your favorite episode was on the show??? Your show is the best show I have ever seen.Wishing you all the best :)

Jon Hamm is a completly believable actor of the highest caliber. I never heard his name before this series. Has he, or will he, do movies? I would like to see much more of him. The nuance and depth and compassion with which he plays Don Draper is so personal and touching. Even the womanizing: a lonely man looking for solace to mask the emptiness he feels inside. So amazingly believable. so very, very excellent.

For all of his flaws Don still manages to connect to viewers. He cheats on his wife, has a secret past, but still manages to draws an audience in with sympathy for him. Why is this? What about this charactor do you think connects to so many people?

In the episode 'The Gypsy and the Hobo', Don Draper's behavior and mannerisms around his wife changed completely from what we have previously seen out of him outside of his time in California, with Anna.

How did you prepare yourself for your (quite brilliant) portrayal of this? does your method involve differentiating characteristics between when the is with Anna and when he is with those at work and home (Dick and Don), or, is it more just doing what your told as an actor and going scene by scene?

In my mind it is absurd to even think about you not having a method of sorts. Everything you do on the show is brilliant from the way you tug at your sleeves getting dressed to the most dramatic and intense of scenes... there must be some kind of method to the magic.

Typical of the 1960's, there are many characters on the show who smoke cigarettes. Did you have to start smoking to play Don Draper?

Typical of the 1960's, many characters on the show smoke cigarettes. Did you have to start smoking to play Don Draper?

I loved your Vanity Fair photo shoot with January Jones. It was a beautiful and sad story of pictures. Despite the plan already in place for the show by Matt Weiner, are you rooting for Don and Betty to save their marriage?

*when the character is with

Also: do you really consider Don Draper and Dick Whitman to be two seperate characters when it comes to how you portray them?

Your work, Mr. Hamm, is incredible; it is visual poetry to watch your portrayal of Don Draper -- lover extraordinaire! To discover an actor that can effectively create a sexy, mystical, complex, captivating man is rare. Unlike other viewers who may find Draper "damaged" and "manipulative," I believe he's a true survivor. The character never complains and whines (real men don't you know!) In every scene, Draper is accepting the challenge and excelling, whether it be an attractive women, comforting his children, being a provider for his family, and drawing the sword at work. The tension is beautiful between Draper and his wife, Betty; every woman wants him except her most days. What's a man supposed to do? In creating Draper, what characters in books, movies, and or plays did you delve into? Truly, your performance is riveting. You are so, so , so talented. Also, people must understand that in the '60's, everyone drank and smoked! Everyone! Stop this psychobabble! It was the cultural thing to do. People had class and boundaries then, rejoice!!!!

If you were not playing Don Draper, what other role would you have gone for?

As an actor, what was your biggest challenge in bringing Don Draper (and Dick Whitman) to life? What was one thing you really wanted the audience to 'get' about this character?

As an actor, what was your biggest challenge in bringing Don Draper/Dick Whitman to life? What was the one thing you wanted the audience to 'get' about this character?

As an actor working on Mad Men, you probably experience the series rather differently than how we as fans perceive it. Out of all three seasons working on the series thus far, which was your favorite scene or moment to shoot, and why? Additionally, which are some of your favorite scenes/moments/plot points on the show in general?

You are an extremely talented actor, and you underplay the character of Don Draper so believably and so remarkably. Thank you so much for gracing my television screen with your presence every Sunday night :)

I teach literature, and I'd love to have my students hear how Jon characterizes Don. What are his motives? Is he, in literary terms, a round or flat character? What are the character traits he tries to convey for Don? What is his own interpretation of Don?

I've heard you on podcasts with comedians such as Jimmy Pardo and Doug Benson - and its been quite funny! Do you have any plans to do comedy?

Are you considering playing Matt Helm in the new series of movies based upon the novels by Donald Hamilton? In my opinion, and in the opinion of many fans of those novels, you are perfect for the part. He is not the boozy Dino Martin version from the campy 60's films, but rather, a principled, cynical government assassin, who is brought back to the work after 15 years of marriage by the kidnapping of his daughter.

I understand the writers incorporate many aspects of the actors' real lives into characters on the show. What aspects of your life, background, experiences, and personality have the writers "borrowed" for Don Draper/Dick Whitman? It seems that your personality is very different from that of your character - would you agree?

I understand the writers incorporate many aspects of the actors' real lives into characters on the show. What aspects of your life, background, experiences, and personality have the writers "borrowed" for Don Draper/Dick Whitman? It seems that your personality is very different from that of your character - would you agree?

Is there any other job in film or television you'd like to take on, such as writing or directing?

BTW, I found your portrayal of Lex Luthor in the funnyordie.com video sketch to be hilarious. Well done!

I'm not so acty-etherial quesrtioning. Just want to know, how has all this fame come-quickly affected you, and how has your girlfriend/SO adjusted to all your many loves scenes and love scene partners. We know it's difficult ala Branjolina to sometime separate screen and reel life. Thanks!

as a man who plays a character with so many secrets what secrets can you share?

I just wanted to tell you that the scene in the kitchen where you fumbled the cigarette was amazing.
Congratulations.

Hi Jon,
I have read that you lost both of your parents at a young age. Does the Dick Whitman character make you miss your parents even more, since Dick also lost his parents soo young?
I've been a fan of yours for a few years now, and am glad that you are finally getting recognized for your talents.

Most of what I would ask has already been asked, but that's ok....just want to tell you that in my opinion, you are the best actor to come along in years. The very best I've seen on any TV series, Mad Men being the best also in that category.

As other posters have stated, I, too cried right along with you when you told Betty about Adam.
You have that rare ability to reach right through the screen into viewers' hearts and make them feel what you feel. It's a privilege to watch.

I look forward to seeing you in Mad Men for a lot more seasons and in "big screen" movies as well.

Take Care!

Oh, on second thought, I guess I'll ask my old standby question (that never gets answered...yet!) ~~ Do you ever read the Mad Men forum?

Did you have any idea that the Don confesses to Betty scene would happen this season or were you totally surprised when you read the script? What was it like for you and Ms Jones to film those scenes?

How do you enjoy working with child actors? Do you find it more difficult than working with adults?

You're the next Brando!

Your portrayal of Don Draper deserves an Emmy for the Gypsy episode. I rarely am overcome by an actor on tv but I cried with you. Kudos Jon on a beautifully done job. My question might be a little different. I love what you do on Mad Men, but I am wondering what other roles or character types are you hoping to challenge yourself with once the series has run it's course? Thank you for doing such a good good job.

Don Draper is'nt just hiding from his past. He is also hiding from his inner demons. He is essentially a coward, from the way he is portrayed during the combat scene and his constant womanizing. The marriage between Betty seems like a contradiction, it's what he knows he should want, but at the same time he's urge to flee make it seem more like a prison. Where do you draw from to balance Don Draper "the escapist" with Don Draper "the man in control of his destiny"??

As Maureen Ryan said in this week's The Watcher, somebody give this man an Emmy! I would only have to say that no one could "give" Jon Hamm an Emmy; He has earned an Emmy.
My question is: Did you draw from you experience of losing your parents in the scene with Betty when you broke down when she asked about Adam?
I just loved the way you played that scene--no extra tears or histrionics, just perfect to convey the depth of the experience and to ellicit sympathy from a wife who has just had her world torn apart.
BRAVO!

If you were asked to play Superman ( your super acting skills and classic good looks put you in mind for such a role), would you do it?

If you were asked to play Superman ( your super acting skills and classic good looks put you in mind for such a role), would you do it?

Do you or your agent realize that you would be the perfect Superman, and would you please contact Warner Bros. and get that going as soon as possible?

your character is sometimes hard to like because of all the deception and cheating. do people sometimes approach you off-set and get upset at you? or do they talk to you like you are in character?

Jon, the way you light a cigarette is so elegant and consistent. It seems representative of the character; that's why it was so striking when you fumbled it during the scene with Betty in the kitchen about your past. Did you study any particular actor or film to perfect your method?

Since you are not of the age to have been very cognizant of the early 1960s, how do you find that your portrayal of Don Draper conflicts with your attitudes and actions in today's culture? Is there a disconnect, since it is a role? Do you find that you react to any of the dialogue or acting in a personal way?

Does Matthew Weiner ask any of the actors, including you, to refrain from getting too fit or ripped so as to not look too 2009? Are men or women told to not use weight training?

Dear Mr. Hamm,
I am the age Sally would be if she was alive today. Perhaps because of growing up in the era, Don seems not unusual in that most men at that time led double lives at home and work and carried horrific secrets from war. So my question is the same one I wanted to know since childhood: what does Don want from Betty? What does Don expect from Betty? And... Is Don regretting changing his identity?

Thank you for your tremendous work and committment to this remakable series.

Mr. Hamm:

You're a very good-looking man. You remind me of my old time favorite, Gary Cooper and you appear very smart. I'd like to know why on talk shows you still look bewildered and overwhelmed by everything. Can't you just ease up and go for the ride?

Sincerely,
NR

If there was such a thing would Don have played fantasy baseball or football? One of the reasons I ask because I wasn't sure if Don had lied to Gene about taking Bobby to the ball games. Since we don't see everything that the characters do I wasn't sure if he was just pacifying Gene by sayings he did.

Hi,
What can I ask to the actor Jon Hamm?.... I think that everything you do in the show is fantastic, you really play the character as if it was for real. You feel and act like "Don Draper". That's what really good actors do they give themselves completely to the character that they are playing. You are a very good looking man and a fantastic actor...why aren't you in movies?? I understand that the series "Mad Men" wouldn't be as successful as they are if there was not a "Donal Draper" leading the show, but you should also, be in the movies... you deserve it! Simply, because you have earned it! I do understand that you have lots of women just telling you how much they love you and how handsome you are, and things of the sort. Anyway, the fact remains! You should be in the big screen, you have demonstrated with your hard work and great talent in "Mad Men" what great of an actor you are. Keep the working in the series if you like...to tell you the truth I love the series, never miss an episode, but it make me sad to see how you... who have so much potential as an actor, just as good as Johnny Deep, De Niro, Pacino, Cruise, among others... is stuck in "Don's" role. Jon... you have worked in a couple of movies, which have given you the advantage of having cinematography experience.
I just can't help myself but to wonder how is it that you are not in the movies playing the lead character??
So there you have it... that is my question to you Mr. Jon Hamm!
Please, don't get me wrong am a fan, but it just bothers me to think that you could end up as a "type cast" hence, just being remember as "Don Draper" and not as the magnificent actor that you really are "Jon Hamm". Well, good luck to you and hope to see you soon in the "Big Screen"!!!!

Dear Jon (oh, that doesn't sound like a good start),

I agree with all of the posters here who have said you are a wonderful actor, and extremely good looking!
When I watch you during interviews you seem to be so down to earth, and humbled by your popularity.
Just a regular guy with a great sense of humor!

Do you feel that your fame has changed you in any way?

I wish you all the best, and continued success in your profession.

P.S. I loved you in 30 Rock!
And, thank you for taking a stand in the Health Care Reform movement!

Hey, Jon....do you still smell like frosting?

hee hee

Jon - When Don is with his lovers it seems his guard is down and he is "himself"... Dick Whitman. Obviously makeup takes care of mussing up your hair, etc. but in these scenes you seem to look like, and speak as "Dick", rather than Don.
How do you make this shift that comes through in your eyes, your face, mannerism, etc. for this "schizophrenic" character Don/Dick?

Does he have a brother in NY who's not attached to a gorgeous blonde movie star like John is?

We all know that Don Draper has an abundant supply of skeletons in his closet. If he could go back and change one thing about his life, a decision that he had made, what do you think that would be?