Jon Hamm has long been one of Hollywood’s most compelling on-screen presences, not because he plays the most lovable characters, but because he portrays the most human ones.
From Don Draper in ‘Mad Men’ to Buddy in ‘Baby Driver’, Hamm has carved a niche for himself. Ahead of his return as Paul Marks in ‘The Morning Show’ Season 4, the Emmy-winning actor opened up about why he continues to gravitate toward villainous and morally ambiguous characters.
Jon Hamm Says “Good Guy” Superhero Roles Aren’t For Him
In a recent interview, Jon Hamm addressed his apparent tendency to take on roles that lean into the darker sides of human nature. “Look, I think people can relate to characters making bad decisions because we’ve all made them,” he said candidly. “My history of characters isn’t exactly the saints; it’s more on the sinner side of the equation.”
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“But Superman can be kind of boring. No offense to the new Superman [David Corenswet], who I hope is a delightful person.” His statement explains why Hamm’s portrayals are so memorable. He embraces the realism in flawed characters, acknowledging that even “the good guy” can be a little messed up inside. And really, isn’t that what makes a character interesting?
It’s no coincidence that Hamm’s breakthrough came from a role like Don Draper, a man torn between charisma and emotional collapse, success and secrecy, love and detachment. While Draper was far from a traditional villain, he lived in moral grey zones. Hamm made him feel real. So real, in fact, that even a decade after the show ended, audiences still bring up Draper when Hamm’s name is mentioned.
However, Hamm’s dive into the darker end of the character spectrum didn’t stop there. From ‘Black Mirror’ and more recently as the cunning Sheriff Roy Tillman in ‘Fargo’, he has shown that villainy comes in many shades. When he says people connect with flawed characters because we’ve all made bad decisions, it’s a truth he clearly believes.
With Season 4 of ‘The Morning Show’ set to premiere on September 17, 2025, Hamm is reprising his role as Paul Marks, a tech billionaire whose ethics are more than a little murky. From the moment he was introduced, Marks has been a polarizing figure, charming one minute, manipulative the next. So, Hamm is undoubtedly the perfect fit.
Jon Hamm Opens Up About Finding Himself While Watching Reality TV
Hamm also recently confessed to finding himself in the most unexpected of places: a Bravo reality show. Speaking to W Magazine, Hamm revealed his love for ‘Southern Charm’, a series about a group of charming, often chaotic friends navigating life and love in Charleston, South Carolina. “I really like it, mostly because it’s about the guys, and most reality shows are about the women,” Hamm said with a laugh.
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“Southern Charm is about these three dumba**, glorious dummies bumbling through life. You want to hit them in the head and also give them a hug and tell them everything’s going to be okay.” What makes his comment especially endearing is that he sees a bit of his younger self in these “glorious dummies.” He recalls watching them and thinking, “Oh God,” as their missteps mirror some of his own from years past.
