BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Vincent Kartheiser (KARTH’-eyes-er) plays the antithesis of his smarmy “Mad Men” character Pete Campbell in the upcoming NatGeo miniseries “Saints & Strangers.”

The four-hour movie is about the men and women who crossed over on the Mayflower and their first year in America.

Cast members including Natascha McElhone, Barry Sloane and Ron Livingston addressed TV critics Wednesday at the annual summer press tour.

Kartheiser plays William Bradford, who was the second governor of the Plymouth Colony and is described as the moral compass of the story.

“Pete Campbell was the opposite of that,” a bearded, long-haired Kartheiser said via satellite from South Africa, where production is underway.

“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,” he said.

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.”

When a reporter asked the panel of actors and producers whether any of the American cast have ancestors who were on the Mayflower, Kartheiser responded, “No, but I think Pete Campbell did.”

“Saints & Strangers” premieres Nov. 26 on National Geographic Channel.

___

Online:

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com