John Slattery: I wanted to be Tom Hanks

John Slattery would tell everybody if Tom Hanks was a "d****ebag".

John has been in the acting industry for a while now, impressing in roles such as Roger Sterling in Mad Men and Howard Stark in Iron Man 2.

The 52-year-old starred alongside screen icon Tom in 2007's Charlie Wilson's War, and aspired to be like the double Oscar-winner when he first moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he lived in a tiny apartment.

"I think everybody at that point wanted you to be Tom Hanks," John sighed to US Esquire magazine, adding that he took a Levi's commercial to pay the rent. "He was this funny, young, comedic-leaning man who had dark, curly hair, and I was a young guy who was neither of those other things but had dark, curly hair.

"I have met Tom Hanks. Several times. And he's been very nice. If Tom Hanks was a d****ebag' Are you kidding me' I'd tell everybody. Goddamn Tom Hanks. Thinks he's so special..."

John's locks have transformed since his younger days and he's now dubbed a silver fox, a title which he sees as "a silly way to be known". But it's one of the main reasons his Mad Men alter ego has proved such a hit with the ladies.

In real life he's been married to Talia Balsam, the ex-wife of George Clooney, since 1998. When asked how he compares himself to his small screen co-star Jon Hamm and heartthrob George, John gave a modest answer.

"I should feel worse, shouldn't I' I have a fairly - and I say fairly not because I'm without vanity - realistic image of myself compared with guys who look like that," he added.