BRYAN CRANSTON
INTERVIEW BY TERRENCE HOWARD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN TYLER CLOSE
STYLING BY JENNY RICKER
GROOMING BY ROSIE JANE JOHNSTON
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To some TV viewers, Bryan Cranston will always be Dr. Tim Whatley – Jerry’s Jewish-joke-cracking dentist on Seinfeld, others couldn’t pass him in the street without screeching “Hal!” but it’s his most recent televisual turn as Breaking Bad’s meth-making chemistry teacher Walter White that’s got fans and critics wagging their tongues like super-excited spaniels. Currently in its fourth season, Cranston’s against-type casting as a nerdy high-school teacher who learns he has advanced lung cancer and turns to drug dealing to secure his family’s financial future has earned him Emmy wins three years in a row (which just about makes up for his three misses for Malcolm in the Middle). With upcoming roles in this year’s Contagion, and 2012 flicks Total Recall and Rock of Ages, he’s also making himself at home on the big screen. Here he tells Terence Howard – his co-star from World War Two movie Red Tails, which is being produced by George Lucas and is due out next year – about his happy marriage, his unexpected rise to the top and how he leaves Walter White’s crazy life in the make-up chair.
Terrence Howard—I was a little taken aback that you wanted me to interview you.
Bryan Cranston—Why would you say that?
TH—You’ve done a lot, man. I was honored.
BC—And I was honored you accepted. Have you heard anything about Red Tails?
TH—Yes I have. They actually sent me some trailers to look at – they were great. I think we’re about to have a great movie.
BC—Terrific.
TH—I’m a little nervous now. I’ve never been in this position. I could ask you stuff that some reporter would ask, but that’s really not what I want to ask about. I want to ask about how you’ve maintained such a beautiful marriage for 22 years in this business.
BC—That’s a great inside question. It’s tough. Our work schedules are demanding and invasive to a relationship and you just have to make exceptions. When I shoot Breaking Bad for six months in New Mexico, we don’t go more than two weeks without seeing each other. We have our daughter at home, but she’s on her way to graduating and going off to USC next month, so it’ll be a little easier for Robin to come and visit me when I’m on location.
TH—My daughter’s heading off to college in a month also.
BC—No kidding! What major does she want to do?
TH—She wants to do something with medicine, but I think she’ll end up becoming a publicist. What does your little girl want to do?
BC—She wants to act. And she’s got it; she’s got that something. She’s very sincere about it, even though she’s been around the environment and Hollywood and the trappings of all that. That’s why she wanted to go to a liberal arts college as opposed to a conservatory so by the time she gets out she’ll have a well-rounded education and I’m thrilled.
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