Bryan Lee Cranston is a well-known American actor best known for his roles as Hal in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006) and Walter White in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). He has six Primetime Emmy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. Did you know which Hollywood big wig complimented Bryan Cranston for his performance as Walter White on Breaking Bad?
Anthony Hopkins wrote Bryan Cranston a fan letter after marathoning Breaking Bad, saying, among other things, “Your performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen – ever.”
From Silence of the Lambs to Heisenberg
Sir Anthony Hopkins made the most endearing headlines after an e-mail he sent to Bryan Cranston went viral. The Silence of the Lambs star had binge-watched the entire season of AMC’s Breaking Bad. It was so taken with the actor’s multifaceted performance as a spineless chemistry teacher-turned-wicked meth cook that he fired up his computer in Malibu and composed a full Valentine’s Day letter to Cranston.
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.
Anthony Hopkins to Bryan Cranston
(Source: Huffpost)
The Viral Compliment
Unfortunately for Hopkins, the email was leaked on the Internet and quickly went viral. And now, the private actor has vowed never to write another such letter.
Hopkins requested in the letter that Cranston share his praise with the cast of Breaking Bad. And it appears that Hopkins holds one of the cast members responsible for the leak.
Some other actor, I don’t know who he was, but Bryan must’ve told somebody about the letter and showed it to him. And somebody, some stupid guy, put it on the Internet, And now I didn’t ask for it. I just wrote this personal letter to Bryan. I didn’t want it to be known publicly, but that’s what happens today. You can’t open your mouth before it goes on the Internet or whatever you have, on Twitter or Facebook. I will keep my mouth shut from now on. I don’t write letters to people.
Anthony Hopkins, Actor
Source: Huffpost)
Bryan Cranston’s Reception
The actor expressed his desire to share the honor with his co-stars.
I then proceeded to write a letter to my co-stars, whom Hopkins praised a lot, I started to write, ‘Anthony Hopkins wrote me a letter and he said basically,’ and I stopped and went, wait a minute. Why would I paraphrase him and capsulate what he wrote? I should just let them read the letter.
Bryan Cranston, Actor
Instead, Cranston forwarded an attachment of Hopkins’ letter to the cast, along with the following note:
Listen, here is what Anthony Hopkins wrote to us as a cast, and I thought you’d be as thrilled as I was. Enjoy it, Bryan.
Bryan Cranston, Actor
(Source: Huffpost)