'Mad Men' Star Jon Hamm On Matt Weiner, Struggling To Succeed

Jon Hamm, who is widely known for playing the stoic, womanizing Don Draper on AMC's "Mad Men," is arguably one of the biggest names in Hollywood these days.

Despite his success in recent years, Hamm's career wasn't always such a smooth ride. "I was told was after testing for my seventh network in a pilot season ... I was told by the head of the network that I would never be a television star," Hamm revealed to The Hollywood Reporter during an Emmys roundtable interview.

But the network head's harsh words were far from Hamm's only slap in the face as a young actor.

"[I lived in] L.A. for 10 years, not working, having no money and no prospects. The days were kind of great; it was the long nights staring at the ceiling waiting for the phone to ring," he remembered. "The uncertainty is always the difficult part, at least it has been for me."

With his years of unemployment behind him, Hamm now completely trusts "Mad Men" creator Matt Weiner -- who has managed to nab 15 Emmys in the show's five seasons -- to take Don in any direction he wants.

"I've just become really comfortable in portraying this guy, and I'm [still] surprised by what happens ... My statement about being comfortable in Don's skin is something that Matt is, I think, finding as well," Hamm told HuffPost TV before Season 5 premiered. "I think he’s comfortable with his characters as well, and giving them room to breathe and room to do stuff."

Season 5 of "Mad Men" wrapped up on Sunday, June 10, but for more from Jon Hamm, click over to THR.