Vincent Kartheiser has revealed it is “wonderful” to play a character who is the antithesis of his Mad Men alter-ego.

The 36-year-old actor, who played smarmy and scheming advertising executive Pete Campbell in the hit period drama, portrays “moral compass” William Bradford in NatGeo’s new mini-series Saints And Strangers.

Elisabeth Moss and Vincent Kartheiser
Elisabeth Moss and Vincent Kartheiser (John Shearer/Invision/AP)

The four-hour TV movie, which is about the men and women who crossed over on the Mayflower and their first year in America, and Vincent’s character William was the second governor of the Plymouth Colony.

“Pete Campbell was the opposite of that,” the actor said at the annual Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to dive into a different era and a different type of character. I also thought being on NatGeo, that they would honour this story and they would bring historical accuracy to it.”

Vincent, bearded and sporting long hair, was speaking via satellite from South Africa, where production on the small-screen adaptation is under way.

Gina Matthews, an executive producer, added: “He has this quality to draw you in as an actor, and you can’t take your eyes off him.”

Cast members including Natascha McElhone, Barry Sloane and Ron Livingston also spoke at the panel.

Saints And Strangers will premiere on National Geographic Channel in November.