B.L. How daunting is it to play the President of the United States?
M.H. Very daunting and frightening to me. It was so important for me to try and do it believably and I think that was part of the reason I was attracted to it. I studied a lot of tape and a lot of different people, American and otherwise. In so many ways, so much of what I was really looking for in this role was about how the First Family really acts when the cameras are not rolling. It’s a very different thing to look at and balance but I enjoyed this opportunity and it was a challenge.

B.L. I can’t even imagine what somebody like Clinton must have gone through to have your daughter in the spotlight like that.
M.H. I had a hard time grabbing on to where this story takes place, so I backed it up about 15 years before they were in the White House and when they started their political journey. This relationship in the film was closer to a normal relationship. It still doesn’t change the dichotomy of being a father to a daughter in a family. What changes is the focus that is put on it, and it’s interesting because you ask "Is my character too tough on his daughter or too narrow-minded in what he is letting her do?" In this world, I don’t think so and certainly in what’s at stake. I think that he tries to let her evolve and discover, but based on who he is he needs to keep some reasonable control over the situation.

B.L. I don’t think you could get a sweeter co-star to play your daughter than Mandy Moore.
M.H. Absolutely, and talented. A nice person, a hard worker who comes prepared, and a professional. I’d done The West Wing where I’d worked with Allison Janney, and Allison had just played her mother in a feature so she had stories. So this was a film that attracted me and came in my direction and when the opportunity presented itself to do this I was interested. But the second part of this was to act opposite Mandy. And that was fun, that was great fun and sometimes you don’t know. Sometimes you get there and you go "nah, this is not what I thought it would be." But this was great, and whatever is there for Mandy Moore in the future -- and there’s a lot there -- you’ve just seen the tip of it, she’s got great depth. I look forward to witnessing that.

B.L. Being a dad yourself and having sons, what was it like to have a daughter for a little while?
M.H. It was great; she’s a treat, she’s got great parents in real life and a very strong moral character about who she is, and she’s worked hard to get where she’s gotten and it’s just like I said, it’s the start of that. You know, it’s nice in this business, in any business to meet younger folks who are on the right track and I respect that. And in this business especially, where things can get sideways in a hurry, it’s a nice change.

B.L. Talk about a travel-log. You got to go on some absolutely amazing locations. Where did you stay in Prague?
M.H. I started in London and then I ended up in Prague; I didn’t get to go to Italy. I did all this traveling inside three or four weeks so it was four trips over and back so it was bout getting an opportunity to do this role and getting to do this film and that’s what I’m happy about.

B.L. One thing that I’ve always admired about you is that you’ve maintained a TV career while coming out with films as well. When it comes down to it which do you enjoy most? I’m sorry, but St. Elsewhere? Never missed an episode. Chicago Hope – I was there in front of my TV every week.
M.H. Well, thank you. You know, when I first started trying to follow this path, for me it was just about working and then initially it was about trying to get an opportunity to get a choice in what you work in. Soon after that it was about trying to line yourself up opposite good people, and that’s what I’m doing. I make choices based on characters that challenge me and to some degree scare me. I’m not liable to jump onto something if I think I’ve done it before or if I think it’s not a challenge. I’m consciously trying to make choices that have me working with not only talented people, good people, but also nice people. I’m not going to work with the jerks anymore.

B.L. Are you enjoying your new series?
M.H. Yeah, I’m enjoying the people involved; we’re working really hard and that’s part of it too. I’m home which is a great treat. It’s successful, which is a nice addition. I’ve never done a series as successful as this seemingly is, and that’s all great, but for me, this is just a stop along the way on a path.

B.L. Will we be seeing you and Pam (his wife Pam Dawber) do some stuff together again?
M.H. Not likely. Only because if you were to give us the same script, 99.9 per cent of the time, we both don’t like the same stuff. We’ve done plays together and we’ve done one small independent feature that was an experience that neither one of us would want to do again. But having said that, who knows!