Screen caught up with Jon Hamm and his long term girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt, who are in Cannes to promote their feature Friends With Kids, which wrapped in February.
Westfeldt has written, directed and stars in the indie drama about the last two singletons in a group of friends, who decide to try to beat the system by having a baby together platonically, while pursuing romantic relationships in their time off from parenting. Adam Scott, Kristen Wiig, Megan Fox and Edward Burns also star alongside Hamm in the film, which was entirely funded by new production company Red Granite Pictures (which launched in spectacular style here in Cannes with their Kanye West party).
“Most of our closest friends have become parents in the past four or five years, so we’ve kind of experienced what it feels like to be a bit out of sync with your peer group and observe the changes in lifestyle,” says Westfeldt, who previously co-wrote and produced Kissing Jessica Stein and Ira & Abby (Hamm appeared in both).
So how did they find working together this time? “This was a different level than we had ever experienced, but it seemed like a natural progression,” says Hamm, whose career has catapulted after the success of US series Mad Men.
“I’m very conscious about choosing things that I find challenging, not just a rehash of a Don Draper-type character.”
Hamm was nevertheless looking ever so slightly Draper-esque in a cream suit when I met him on the rooftop of the Marriott. Perhaps he is getting into character ahead of the next series, which starts shooting in July.
“I’m excited,” he says.
Not as excited as we are.
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