Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston) has been guilty of a lot on the AMC series “Breaking Bad.” Cold-blooded murder was often the order of the day for the experienced meth producer. But if viewers were asked again which act was the most heinous, then the vote would probably be clear.
In the 12th episode of the second season (“Phoenix”), Walter watched as Jane (Krysten Ritter), the girlfriend of his partner Jesse (Aaron Paul), choked to death on her own vomit. Instead of helping her, Walter lets her die miserably.
Some time ago, Bryan Cranston was once again confronted with the “Breaking Bad” scene as a guest on the “Bravo” show “Inside the Actors Studio”. While the actor visibly fought back tears as he rewatched the images, he said: “What most people don’t understand is that as actors we have to be willing to pay a price for what we do. And it’s a very, very emotional price that we have to be able to pay.”
Bryan Cranston thought about his own daughter
Cranston explained the complex emotions Walter must be feeling in those seconds because he naturally instinctively wants to save the life of this person in distress. But then it dawns on him that she is the one who has turned Jesse into a junkie again and is essentially killing him. “But she’s a little girl – young enough to be my daughter,” said Cranston, who seemed to be able to fully understand the situation.
After these words, the actor had to cry and explained on the show that he had to think about his own daughter Taylor Dearden while filming. “And then suddenly I saw her face. I did not want. I didn’t plan that. I think that’s why I just closed my eyes at the time,” Cranston said.
In the ice-cold manner with which White sacrificed other people in the series, he lets fate take its course.
Cranston: “Then I was like, ‘Forget it! Go on. That’s just what happens. I don’t do that. I won’t kill her. She kills herself.’ Then the image of my daughter disappeared from my eyes – and I had control over myself again.”