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What Anthony Hopkins Wrote To Bryan Cranston After A Late-Night 'Breaking Bad' Binge
Actor Anthony Hopkins attends Fox's 'American Idol 2013' Finale at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on May 16, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Stars are just like us: they binge-watch the final season of Breaking Bad until the wee hours of the morning, and then proclaim the show "addictive," "Jacobean" and even "Shakespearian." But unlike the rest of us, Anthony Hopkins had a hook-up through his talent agency to directly e-mail Bryan Cranston himself to express his admiration for the "spectacular" and "extraordinary" performances on the show.Hopkins' e-mail to "Mister Cranston" could have been from any "Breaking Bad" fanboy, except the digs at Hollywood have a different ring to them coming from an Oscar winner: "...there is so much smoke blowing and sickening bullshit in this business, and I’ve sort of lost belief in anything really." He added that the show and Cranston's work in particular "restores confidence."
Steven Michael Quezada, who played Gomez in the show, posted the letter on his Facebook page, which we've republished in full:
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. (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.
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