I think I’m the last person on Earth who has not yet watched Breaking Bad. I’m not sure why, but perhaps I’m saving it like a fine wine for a special moment. Someday I will take the time to devour the five seasons in full, but one person who recently did just that is none other than one of our greatest living actors, Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins pulled off a Breaking Bad marathon in the comfort of his Malibu home not too long ago, and as soon as he was finished he wrote a fan letter of love directly to the series’ star Bryan Cranston. Hopkins praises Cranston’s performance, and wraps up by asking Cranston to forward similar applause to the rest of the Breaking Bad cast including Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Aaron Paul, and Steven Michael Quezada — the latter of whom posted the message in full on his Facebook page on Sunday. Here is the letter in full:
Dear Mister Cranston.
I wanted to write you this email – so I am contacting you through Jeremy Barber — I take it we are both represented by UTA . Great agency. I’ve just finished a marathon of watching ‘Breaking Bad’ — from episode one of the First Season — to the last eight episodes of the Sixth Season. [FEELguide NOTE: there are only 5 seasons, but perhaps Hopkins was wishing out loud there was a sixth] (I downloaded the last season on AMAZON) A total of two weeks (addictive) viewing. I have never watched anything like it. Brilliant! Your performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen — ever. I know there is so much smoke blowing and sickening bullshit in this business, and I’ve sort of lost belief in anything really. But this work of yours is spectacular — absolutely stunning. What is extraordinary, is the sheer power of everyone in the entire production. What was it? Five or six years in the making? How the producers (yourself being one of them), the writers, directors, cinematographers … every department — casting etc. managed to keep the discipline and control from beginning to the end is (that over used word) awesome. From what started as a black comedy, descended into a labyrinth of blood, destruction and hell. It was like a great Jacobean, Shakespearian or Greek Tragedy. If you ever get a chance to — would you pass on my admiration to everyone — Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Aaron Paul, Betsy Brandt, R.J. Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Steven Michael Quezada — everyone — everyone gave master classes of performance … The list is endless. Thank you. That kind of work/artistry is rare, and when, once in a while, it occurs, as in this epic work, it restores confidence. You and all the cast are the best actors I’ve ever seen. That may sound like a good lung full of smoke blowing. But it is not. It’s almost midnight out here in Malibu, and I felt compelled to write this email. Congratulations and my deepest respect. You are truly a great, great actor.
Best regards
Tony Hopkins.
Anthony Hopkins’ publicist has since confirmed that her client did indeed write this heartfelt letter to Cranston. Bryan Cranston has not yet made a public statement about the lovely note, but I would imagine he’s too busy right now trying to find a way to have the letter gold plated.
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