Jon Hamm has spoken about his recent battle with alcohol addiction.

The Mad Men actor, 44, was all smiles as he appeared on the red carpet to promote the new TV series with his co-stars.

But in an earlier interview with TV Week, released after the news of his 30-day stint in rehab for alcohol addiction broke, he said it had been a difficult time.

He refused to say whether inhabiting the dark role of Don Draper in the hit TV series had sparked or exacerbated the problem.

But the actor told the Australian magazine: “Life throws a lot at you sometimes and you have to deal with it as much as you can.

Mad Men stars January Jones, Jon Hamm and Christina Hendricks
Mad Men stars January Jones, Jon Hamm and Christina Hendricks (Todd Williamson/Invision)

“That’s why you have family and friends and co-workers to help you with that.

“I’ve been very fortunate that throughout the most recent 24 hour period, I’ve had a lot of family and friends support me. I guess that’s all I will say about that.”

Jon Hamm and January Jones
Jon Hamm and January Jones (Dan Steinberg/Invision)

Asked whether there had been any connection to his Mad Men alter-ego struggling with his own demons, the heartthrob star said: “Obviously there can be a lot of discussion about how much of this is related to that and honestly I don’t have much to say about that.

“I’ve said in varying ways that acting can be a difficult endeavour, certainly not as difficult as … being a baby heart surgeon. But, it does present its own challenges and so does life.

“I understand it constitutes news these days,” he added, “But it’s between me and my family and not something for public consumption.”

A spokeswoman for the actor confirmed this week that he had recently completed the treatment.

The news came as the final season of the 1960s-set advertising agency TV drama is set to air.

Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt
Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt (Evan Agostini/Invision)

“With the support of his long-time partner Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm recently completed treatment for his struggle with alcohol addiction,” the star’s rep said.

“They have asked for privacy and sensitivity going forward.”

In his first red carpet appearance since confirming rumours he’d checked into rehab, he said of his character Don Draper: “I think everybody understands that people have darkness inside them… that people aren’t perfect… that people have problems. Everyone can understand someone that goes through some stuff.”