Interview with Bryan Cranston: no big deal, happens all the time

Digital Spy: In season four, Walt and Jesse were separated for quite a lot of it, because of the whole thing with Gus and Mike. In season five, it seems like the two of you are coming back together and that relationship is more in focus. Are you pleased about that?

BC: It's interesting because there's often a separation and a coming together, then another separation and a coming together, and when Jesse and Walt began to come together again in season five it made me wonder ... [shudders ominously]. But I don't think too far in advance. If I'm doing a movie I want to know the beginning, middle and end so I can modulate the performance, to know exactly where I want to end up, and I get specific and I dissect it. But for this, I haven't seen the ending. And for me to know the ending doesn't help me at all. So I don't ask, I never ask, and I just do the twists and turns wherever Walt is going. I'm focused on the here and now, and it's worked for me that way.

: In terms of the relationship between Walt and Jesse, I've always thought that they started off with a teacher-pupil relationship, which has almost turned into this warped father-son relationship. Walt always went to great lengths to protect Jesse. Even in the first couple of episodes of season five, where Walt's ego is starting to spiral out of all control, do you still feel like he feels a duty of care towards Jesse, or just thinks of him as an investment he has to protect?

BC: No, I think it's kind of both. I don't think they're mutually exclusive. It used to be that, whatever the character, people would watch it because they knew they would stay the same. Whether it's Archie Bunker or it's Thomas Magnum, you watched it because it's comfortable; it's the same guy. Breaking Bad has been a series of changes and adjustments, and what I've learned through it is that human beings are capable of a much wider spectrum of emotions. That's the real honesty of it: that given the right set of circumstances, any one of us could become dangerous.

And it's not mutually exclusive to have a person who is angry, and goes and kills somebody, to go home and pick up their little baby daughter, and honestly and earnestly be nurturing, and loving, and tender. In a way it's very chilling. But I believe human beings are capable of that. And the way it's been depicted before would be, if someone's a hitman, he's just a bad guy. But that's not real. As we explore real human emotions, we all have the capability of those wide ranges of hating someone and loving someone else. So why not show that in our programmes?

And it adds confusion, and discomfort, and anxiety within the viewer. That's what Vince has done so beautifully. To put that drama and anxiety not only within the characters, but within the viewing audience. They might say they don't like Walter White, but they're drawn into this. And they hate the fact that they're watching. And we're dragging them down to Hell! And they can't help it. They know by signing on, we're gonna take them down to this place, and they don't want to go. But YOU'RE GOING!




And that's great; that's beautiful, crafted structure. You give them a taste of something they're familiar with: a taste of sympathy, familiarity. You feel for this guy: he's in bad health and he has a special needs son and all these things. He's teaching class and you can see the little spark of energy he has about chemistry, which he thinks is fantastic, and he looks up and it's just a sea of apathetic faces going, "Whatever!" And you feel for him. And now we've got you. We're gonna take you along with him. You're going to scream and fight and rebel against it, but we're taking you with him down to Hell!

MSN: How did you feel on Emmys night when Damian Lewis won?

BC: The truth is that we don't think too much about that. I never dreamed about winning awards. The fact that people are responding to your work is in and of itself a remarkable thing. You're all gathered there and there's all these worthy people in your own category.

Here's something that I find upsetting: people have a tendency to want to pit you against each other, as if it's a competition. I see why they think that, but I truly don't see it that way. People came up to me after Damian Lewis won the Emmy and said: "Man, you got robbed." And every time someone said that, it would feel like someone was accidentally stepping on my toe. Because I know it's not true. I understand the sentiment: they're trying to say they're sorry I didn't win. But they feel like that's not enough: they have to put down the other guy. And that kind of competition is uncomfortable to me.

And I know Damian: he's terrific and he certainly deserves that kind of accolade and attention. And it was his year. And they go, Are you upset? No, I'm not upset! He's terrific! And by saying I got robbed, it's saying that he didn't deserve it. It's a little annoying to me. I don't know what it is, but I would've just preferred them saying, "Oh, you didn't win, sorry."




[We're told this will be the last question.]

Digital Spy: You talk a lot about ...

BC: Oh yeah, why don't YOU take it?

Digital Spy: I feel bad now. Anyone else?

BC: Watch this. Here's the best question of all coming.

: Is this one about Madagascar 3?

[Everyone laughs at how splendidly funny is, especially Bryan, who has obviously concluded that is a really great guy.]

Digital Spy: You talk a lot about going to Hell and so on, but the first episode of season five was a lot more humorous than a lot of season four was. So how important is it that there's some humour at all times?

[His answer to the next question is a tiny bit spoilery if you haven't seen the opening episodes of seasons four and five.]

BC: Again, it's the captain of our ship that guides that. But what's really good is to keep people honest, but keep people off-kilter. So at the beginning of season four you saw a very surprising violent opening. At the beginning of season five I think maybe the audience is a bit on edge, but then it's not violent.

And it's the kind of humour that's still honest. It didn't break from who we are but it kept people off guard and that's the best thing you can do: to be true but surprising. So it doesn't come out of left field: we used science and magnets, and we had a mission to do, and that's the brilliance of the writing.

Sometimes I feel like I get to be the lead singer, but the true talent is the one who's writing the songs. And he's the one in the background. It's a joy. And again, I just try to find well-written material. If I keep to my own credo of only doing things that are well written, I'll be fine.
Breaking Bad Season Five is available on Netflix UK from November 1st. Seasons 1-4 are available on DVD and Netflix UK now.