Jon Hamm used to doubt whether he'd ever make it in showbiz.
The 43 year old actor, who is most famous for playing the role of Don Draper on AMC show 'Mad Men', says the death of his mother when he was just 10 and the passing of his father a decade later, caused him to question whether he could ever realise his acting ambitions.
He told Britain's GQ magazine: "It just changed everything. It was just a profound sense of being alone. And that lasted a while. I was in college and I had to start over again. I was at a crossroads. It really could have gone the other way."
Jon suffered rejection after rejection before he finally struck the big time with 'Mad Men' but admitted he was always advised he wouldn't find success until later in life.
He explained: "Flick through the TV guide in the 1990s - I auditioned for every one of those shows. It wasn't just my looks. My energy wasn't right.
"I had to grow into being hireable. People said to me, just wait until you're 40. I was like, '40?'"
Jon has been in a relationship with actress Jennifer Westfeldt, 44, for 17 years and can't believe that doesn't stop women throwing themselves at him wherever he goes.
He said: "I can literally walk through Central Park and every third person will be like, 'Can I have a kiss?' No, absolutely not. And Jennifer will be right there. It doesn't make you feel good. I'm like, 'How were you raised?'"
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