This is the role of my life I wont have a better role for the rest of my career.
But instead of lamenting that or feeling that, Im embracing it, Im enjoying the ride.
But to be able to do that in one role?
Its an amazing gift.
What kind of impact has the success ofBreaking Badhad on you professionally?
What are you up for?
Youre trying to sniff it out like a pig after a truffle.
you better pay your rent.
Everything that you do as an actor if something is well-written, it has a chance to be good.
If it is not wellwritten, it will not be good.
It can even become popular but it wont be good.
They could market it poorly, nobody finds it then down it goes.
But if it starts with the foundation of good writing, youre in the best shape you might be.
Its more opportunities for any actor.
Whats happened is that the business model of television has changed.
So why were we attracted to independent film?
Because it was risky.
Thats why were drawn to it.
They say: We want the thing you thought could never be done.
That is like catnip to a writer.
Its like: You mean the one that I wrote…?
Yes, thats the one.
But hes a horrible person!
Its empowering those writers to do exactly what they want.
Its the same with Vince Gilligan: he never thought this would be able to fly.
He still didnt believe it when we were going into production.
He said: You know where Im going with this?
Im going to make a good person into a bad person.
Its too different, its too pungent for the tastes of most people.
And thats OK with us.
Many fans argue over when their personal tipping point was for losing sympathy with Walt.
Have you had that moment yet?
Have you lost sympathy for him?
I dont judge him.
Because Im too subjective, I shouldnt judge him.
Its just a guy trying to get along and trying do the right thing.
Thats what Walter Whites life is now.
Its embedded in our psyche.
And now… now its different.
All the rules are different.
And I say, Are you supposed to?
Wheres the rule that says youre supposed to follow some edict?
All the rules are broken, it’s possible for you to go anywhere.
And we start reeling you in, and the viewers are following even if they dont want to.
They knowBreaking Badis going to swirl down into a morass of ugliness.
Were not going to take nice little note upwards: itsBreakingBad.Its going to be bad.
Do you have any personal opinion on how the show should end?
Again, I dont have a go at be objective to it.
Hes the captain, hes guided the story from the beginning, and I empower that.
Im his mouthpiece, basically.
Some people ask me, Youve got eight episodes, is there pressure on you to finish it?
and I say, not at all.
Its not on me.
Ive been very fortunate, and I dont hesitate to mention how this all came about.
You have to have luck.
And I had luck.
I was doing a movie I wrote and directed, and just took a flier.
Theres a role onX-Files.
Would you be interested?
Well, yeah, Im broke, I need the money.
And I got it.
It was written by Vince Gilligan.
Thats where I met him.
Had I not been available, I wouldnt be sat in this chair right now.
Vince was my champion to get this role: I will forever be grateful to him.
No, I think its kind of both.
I dont think theyre mutually exclusive.
Thats the real honesty of it.
That given the right set of circumstances anyone of us could become dangerous.
And the way its been depicted before is a hitman, like: Oh, hes a bad guy.
So why not show that in our programmes?
And it adds confusion, it adds discomfort, an anxiety within the viewer.
Thats whatBreaking Badand Vince Gilligan have done so beautifully.
To add not only the drama and anxiety within the characters, but also in the viewing audience.
[babbles incoherently] Theyre upset that they were drawn into this.
And theyre going to hell.
[excitedly] IM GOING!
[wails]
Thats great when it’s possible for you to drive them in with you.
Thats beautiful, crafted structure.
I dont think too much of it.
I never dreamt about winning awards, that has to remain a surprise to you.
Man, you got robbed.
Because I know its not true, number one.
That kind of competition was uncomfortable to me.
I know Damien, and hes so terrific, and he certainly deserves that kind of accolade and attention.
It was his year, so no, Im not upset.
The opening of season five demonstrates perhaps a bit more humour than people may have been expecting.
Again, its the captain of our ship that guides that.
You know whats really good is to keep people honest, to keep people off-kilter.
So at the beginning of season four you saw a very surprising, violent opening.
Thats the brilliance of the writing.
Its an underground show.
In fact, its kind of cool that it is.
Its kind of cool that a lot people still dont know about it.
Its almost like a private little club.
And thats alright, because as I say its a very pungent show.
If you like vanilla, youre not going to likeBreaking Bad.
you should probably like a specific flavour that is unusual, that is different, that takes risks.
And most television shows dont do that.
Bryan Cranston, thank you very much!
