Just a day after newsbroke that Jon Hamm had completed a 30-day program for alcohol abuse, the Mad Men actorhas opened up about his addiction for the first time. He told Australian magazine TV Week about how it had been a difficult 24 hours for him since goingpublic with his secret rehab stint.
“I’ve been very fortunate that throughout the most recent 24-hour period. I’ve had a lot of family and friends support me," the44-year-old said. “Life throws a lot at you sometimes and you have to deal withit as much as you can."
Jon looked happy and dapper at the premiere of Mad Men over the weekend Photo: Getty Images
On Tuesday, Jon's rep confirmed the actor had entered rehab. "Withthe support of his longtime partner Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm recently completed treatment for his strugglewith alcohol addiction," publicist Annett Wolf said in a statement."They have asked for privacy and sensitivity going forward."
Longtime love Jennifer Westfeldt has stood by Jon's side Photo: Getty Images
As quickly as the actor'stroubles were made public, so too were the parallels between his personallife and his Mad Men character Don Draper. His role as the troubled advertising executivewith drinking problems of his own, which he has played for seven seasons, hasbrought the star repeated Emmy nominations and seen his profile dramaticallyrise.
“Obviously there can be a lot of discussion about how much ofthis is related to that and honestly I don’t have much to say about thateither,” Jon said. “I’ve said in varying ways that acting can be a difficultendeavor, certainly not as difficult as the recent example I used of being ababy heart surgeon. But, it does present its own challenges and so doeslife."
Many people drew parallels between Jon and his Mad Men character Photo: Getty Images
The handsome actor has said personal experience brought hischaracter to a deeper level. "Mymother died when I was ten, so I did have far more experience of being raisedoutside my family than I had from my own home, probably," he told Esquire in2014. "I hope that lends a deeper resonance. It’s not anything I’m doingconsciously. All we can do as actors is bring our own personal experience tothe role."
But he also stressed the differences between his own life andthat of his Mad Men character. "I'm not that method," he saidduring a 2013 interview with the Observer. "I am very cognizant that I amplaying a character. Don Draper is a pretty dismal, despicable guy, so why Iwould want to take him home with me I don't know." He went on to tell theMail On Sunday thathis character's level of drinking was not how he lived his life. "I don’t drinkas much as Don Draper,’" he said in the 2012 interview. "I would beunconscious if I did."
Jon was spotted at the airport Tuesday looking happy and healthy Photo: Getty Images
Clearlynot hiding from his issues, Jon was spotted at LAX airport the day of the announcementlooking happy and healthy in a black coat, cardigan, grey pants and blackboots. "Iunderstand it constitutes news these days,” he told TV week. “But it’s betweenme and my family and not something for public consumption.”
The disclosure of Jon's stint in rehab comes ahead of Mad Men'sfinal season premiere at the start of April and after he walked the red carpet Sunday looking his dapper self.
