Harry Hamlin on Becoming Tom Brokaw: The Immense Challenge of ‘The Hot Zone: Anthrax’ and Reflecting on a Nation’s Vulnerability
Stepping into the shoes of a real-life figure for an on-screen portrayal is always a daunting task, but when that individual is as universally revered and iconic as legendary newsman Tom Brokaw, the pressure intensifies exponentially. Renowned actor Harry Hamlin took on this formidable challenge, embodying the esteemed television journalist in the compelling limited series, The Hot Zone: Anthrax. Premiering on November 28 on National Geographic, the series delves into one of America’s most unsettling post-9/11 crises. In an exclusive interview with HollywoodLife, Hamlin candidly shared that the prospect of playing Brokaw felt “impossible,” a sentiment that paradoxically fueled his decision to embrace the role.
Hamlin confessed to experiencing profound pressure from the outset, admitting, “I felt nothing but pressure. You kidding me? I said to my agent that it felt like walking a tightrope with no net beneath me.” He articulated the perceived impossibility of the undertaking, stating, “It’s impossible to do this, impossible to approximate another person as iconic as Tom Brokaw. I took it because it’s impossible. I guess I’m crazy when it comes to that kind of thing. But when somebody says to me or I say to myself that there’s no way I can do this, that’s usually what I ended up doing it.” This unique mindset, driven by a desire to conquer seemingly insurmountable artistic hurdles, defines Hamlin’s approach to such a demanding characterization.
Embodying an Icon: Harry Hamlin’s Meticulous Transformation into Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw’s legacy is intrinsically linked to his distinctive, authoritative voice — a voice that resonated with millions across decades, delivering vital news and offering steady reassurance during times of national uncertainty. Harry Hamlin understood the critical importance of capturing this vocal essence for his portrayal. He elaborated on his intricate transformation process, detailing how he meticulously prepared to inhabit the newsman’s persona.
“His voice is much deeper than mine, so I did have to work on that,” the seasoned actor admitted. Unlike many who might enlist a voice coach for such a task, Hamlin relied on his extensive training and a wealth of publicly available resources. “I don’t use a voice coach because I’m fully trained. There’s a tremendous amount of research material out there. He’s written books. He’s done the audio version of all the books, so I was able to listen to all those books and get a sense of just how he spoke.” This deep dive into Brokaw’s audiobooks, especially those with memoir-like qualities, allowed Hamlin to gain insight not just into Brokaw’s speech patterns but also into his personality and intellectual framework. This holistic approach helped him validate and refine his approximation of Brokaw’s unique cadence.
Hamlin acknowledged the inherent difficulties, stating, “It was a challenge, I have to say. I don’t think I ever got to the depth of his voice, but I didn’t want to make it into a complete parody. I just wanted to see if I could find the essence of Tom Brokaw.” His goal wasn’t mere imitation, but rather a more nuanced capture of the spirit and gravity that defined Brokaw’s public persona. His method acting philosophy played a crucial role in this process. “After I listened to him for hours and hours and hours and hours, as a method actor, I approach things very methodically. I think that just over time I was able to kind of infuse myself with the sort of Brokaw-isms that were the most iconic.” This dedicated immersion allowed Hamlin to absorb and subtly integrate Brokaw’s distinguishing characteristics, ensuring a portrayal that was both respectful and believable, rather than a superficial impersonation.
Recalling a Nation’s Fear: The Anthrax Attacks of 2001 and The Hot Zone Series
The series, The Hot Zone: Anthrax, plunges viewers back into the unsettling period immediately following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. As the nation reeled from the unprecedented tragedy, another insidious threat emerged: letters containing deadly anthrax spores were mailed to unsuspecting individuals and prominent media offices across the United States. This biological attack resulted in the deaths of five people and infected seventeen others, sending a fresh wave of panic through an already traumatized population.
Tom Brokaw himself was directly impacted when an anthrax-laced letter was sent to him at NBC, opened by his assistant who, thankfully, survived the infection. Harry Hamlin vividly recalls the collective anxiety of that time, drawing on his own personal experiences. “I was there, and I remember it very well,” he recounted regarding the anthrax attacks. “I remember that we were kind of instructed to go out and buy duct tape to duct tape the windows in case a crop duster came over the city with anthrax.” This chilling detail underscores the widespread fear and lack of clear guidance that permeated daily life, as ordinary citizens grappled with an invisible, terrifying enemy. “I even canceled a trip to New York because this was happening at the time. I was told it was just too dangerous to go to New York.”
Hamlin emphasized the show’s unique ability to reveal the unseen efforts behind the headlines. “But that’s all we knew was what we knew from the news broadcasts, from what we saw Tom Brokaw telling us on the news or Dan Rather. We didn’t see what was going on behind the scenes with the FBI. We didn’t see how the medical community was dealing with it behind the scenes.” The Hot Zone: Anthrax promises to peel back these layers, offering a gripping narrative that blends historical accuracy with the tension of a thriller. “There’s a whole lot to be learned from watching this show. It’s a thriller at the same time it’s being a historical event show, but it’s also whodunit. And from that perspective, I think it’s going to be very engaging for the audience.” The series not only chronicles a dark chapter in American history but also illuminates the heroic efforts of investigators and medical professionals working tirelessly to unravel the mystery and contain the threat.
A Near Encounter and a Stark Warning for the Future
Despite portraying him on screen, Harry Hamlin never had the opportunity to meet Tom Brokaw directly for this project. He recounted a tantalizingly close encounter just prior to the global pandemic. “I have never met Mr. Brokaw even though we were on the same network for many years,” Hamlin told HollywoodLife. “I came close to meeting him just before the pandemic. I was doing an interview for Sirius Radio, and he was sitting right next to me in the waiting room. But somebody else was bending his ear, and I didn’t want to interrupt and then they whisked him away. So I didn’t get a chance to say hello.” While a direct meeting might have offered unique insights, Hamlin’s reliance on extensive research and method acting allowed him to construct a characterization based on public perception and Brokaw’s own documented words, perhaps preserving an objective distance necessary for artistic interpretation.
Beyond its historical recounting, The Hot Zone: Anthrax carries a profound contemporary message, according to Hamlin. He hopes that after watching the limited series, “America wakes up because we are vulnerable.” His words serve as a stark warning, believing that the United States is destined to face future dilemmas of similar, if not greater, magnitude. “I think it’s going to be digital,” he posited, shifting the focus from biological threats to the emerging dangers of the modern age. “We should be aware that in the digital world we are extremely vulnerable. I’m not sure Americans know just how vulnerable we are. I’m not sure that our government has kept up to speed with what is being devised and developed in other industrialized countries like China and Russia and Iran.”
Hamlin concluded with an urgent call for awareness regarding these evolving threats, particularly emphasizing the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. “I think we are extremely vulnerable to this stuff that’s about to happen, particularly with artificial intelligence.” His reflections suggest that while The Hot Zone: Anthrax revisits a past crisis, its underlying themes of national vulnerability and the imperative of preparedness remain intensely relevant today. The three-night event of The Hot Zone: Anthrax is scheduled to begin its broadcast on November 28, exclusively on National Geographic, offering both a historical recounting and a poignant reflection on the enduring challenges of national security.