interview by JANA LETONJA

Harry Hamlin currently stars on the most streamed new series in AMC’s history, Anne Rice’s ‘Mayfair Witches’, and partners with them for ‘In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin’, which will premiere season 3 on 30th April. In addition to this, he founded the largest privately-funded clean fusion energy company in the world, TAE Technologies, and continues to conquer the culinary scene with the Fall launch of his Open Food Company and marquee Red Wine Sauce . Most recently, he launched ‘Let's Not Talk About the Husband’ Podcast with his better half, Lisa Rinna, on 14th February.

You’ve had an incredible career spanning decades, from ‘Clash of the Titans’ to ‘L.A. Law’, ‘Mad Men’, and now ‘Mayfair Witches’. What do you think has kept you in the game for so long?

Hard to define why a career lasts for 45 years. I don’t really have a back-up that would have worked so I keep at it. I did study the craft for years before I ever got a paycheck so that might have something to do with it. I still study and never miss an acting class when I’m in town, every Saturday morning since the 80s.

Anne Rice’s ‘Mayfair Witches’ has become AMC’s most-streamed new series. What drew you to the project, and what excites you most about playing your character?

I am very fortunate to have worked with AMC on both 'Mad Men' and 'Mayfair Witches'. They are all about high quality work and when the idea of playing a patriarch of some of Anne Rice’s most delicious witches came up, I jumped at it. To work with Alexandra was also a draw. She has the most bewitching eyes. I even had to cut the camera during our first take together just to get used to those eyes.

jacket TALNT’S OWN
button up and tie DOLCE&GABBANA
pants LEVIS
shoes SCAROSSO
sunglasses QUAY

You’re not just an actor, but are also deeply involved in clean fusion energy with TAE Technologies. Can you tell us about your vision for the future of energy?

I believe absolutely that fusion will be the provider of electricity for human civilization for the next hundred thousand years or more. Fusion is the same reaction that takes place in the sun where light protons of hydrogen fuse to release charged alpha particles and helium. The highly energetic particles can be converted into electricity using various methods including heating liquid in order to run a turbine or even harvesting the energy directly from the charged particles. E=MC2. The fuel cycle I advocate (PB11) will be completely clean, non-radioactive and non-toxic. But fusion is very hard to do terrestrially because scientists will have to create similar conditions to the core of the sun in order to get protons to fuse. It’s very difficult, but we will do it.

Your culinary venture ‘Harry’s Famous’ and ‘The Open Food Company’ are gaining traction. What inspired you to step into the food industry?

I’ve always enjoyed cooking and after I was asked to have the cast of 'The Real Housewives' to our home for lunch, my Bolognese sauce took on a life of its own. It became a “thing” on the show and made its way into the zeitgeist. Everywhere I went, people would shout “Hey Harry, I love your wife and where can I get your sauce?” AMC asked me to do a cooking show and so I decided to take the sauce “public.” I asked my niece, Renee Guilbault, also my co-star on the cooking show, to team up with me to sell the sauce. Since she’s a culinary monster, having been at the vanguard of the industry for more than 20-years, we decided to create 'The Open Food Company', which is the first
“open source” food company and we will give the recipes to all our products, none of which will ever have chemicals or preservatives or so called “natural flavors.” Our goal is to revolutionize food in America producing only pure, clean food.

jacket TALNT’S OWN
button up and tie DOLCE&GABBANA
pants LEVIS
shoes SCAROSSO
sunglasses QUAY

“In the Kitchen” with Harry Hamlin’ is returning for Season 2. What can fans expect this season? Any special guests or must-try recipes?

“In The Kitchen” Season 2 is in the can. As of this moment, I’ve only seen one episode put together and, somehow, the magicians at AMC have edited together hours of boring footage making it into a succinct, really great ride for just half an hour. I still find it hard to believe I have a cooking show. It remains my passion and to share that with my beloved niece and special guests has been an awesome experience.

You also launched a podcast with your wife, Lisa Rinna, called ‘Let’s Not Talk About the Husband’. What can listeners expect, and what won’t you be talking about?

Lisa and I are doing a podcast together, called 'Let’s Not Talk About the Husband', which refers to an infamous scene in RHOBH when Lisa broke a wine glass at a dinner in Amsterdam while protecting my honor in the face of insinuations from Kim Richards. The whole drama started when Kim shouted ”Let’s not talk about the husband!” The premise is a little like 'Seinfeld'. It’s a show about nothing and everything, and then even a little more than that. We are having a ball recording it.

suit DZOJCHEN
shirt COS
shoes DOUCALS

coat SAINT LAURENT
button up PAUL SMITH
pants SIMKHAI
shoes DOUCALS

You’ve been named People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” How do you feel about that title now, versus when it happened?

How could I be anything, but proud to be part of the 'Sexiest Man' club. Not a bad company. I’ve always thought that the people at People must have been high when they picked me and I’m sure all of my wives would agree.

You and Lisa have such a dynamic relationship, both personally and professionally. What’s the secret to balancing work, marriage, and family in Hollywood?

For me, family is number one. My son grew up in Italy with his mother and not having a dad around was very difficult for him, so we decided that our kids would have us both until they left the nest. I worked only in LA or close to home as did Lisa, and there was just enough opportunity here in LA over that 19-years that we were able to make it all work. Our kids are doing great and we are a very close-knit family.

You’ve performed on Broadway, starred in hit TV series, and built businesses. What’s been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?

I’m grateful to still be working on interesting things and also grateful to have been consistently working for almost 50 years. There are definitely career highlights, like 'Clash of the Titans', 'Hamlet', 'LA Law', 'Mad Men', now Anne Rice’s 'Mayfair Witches' on AMC, TAE Technologies, etc. There are really too many to mention. Though, whenever anyone asks me that question, I always flash on a moment when Lisa and I were playing Roxy and Billy Flynn in 'Chicago' and we would meet for two seconds under the stage in the second act. We would see each other and do a high five during that quick moment and realize how lucky we were to do a Broadway musical together. That was a major highlight.

Besides all the mentioned projects, what’s next for you? Any new projects, business ventures, or personal passions you’re excited to dive into?

I can’t seem to slow down, so I have a few projects in the works. I’m working on a sequel to my first memoir, 'Full Frontal Nudity', and I’m writing lyrics to a handful of songs I’ve created over the years. I’m also putting the finishing touches on a script that I’ve been working on for a while. It’s a big contemporary family adventure that takes place in Arthur’s Camelot. I’m sure I’ll think of something else to do before long.

IN CONVERSATION WITH HARRY HAMLIN

IN CONVERSATION WITH HEYOON

IN CONVERSATION WITH ARIANNE PHILLIPS