“Thank God Breaking Bad came along”: Dame Helen Mirren Regrets Bryan Cranston’s Reputation Before Vince Gilligan Series

Bryan Cranston is one of the most charismatic and talented actors Hollywood has ever seen. His versatility is one of a kind and he has portrayed some of the most compelling characters on-screen. His incredible performances in Trumbo, The Infiltrator, Wakefield, and Your Honor make him one of the greats to have ever graced the screen. He is also a beloved and respected figure in the industry.

His most recognizable and memorable role is Walter White in Breaking Bad. He had also done many TV projects like Malcolm in The Middle and an episode in X-Files but he was a relatively unknown actor until Breaking Bad came along. Dame Helen Mirren seems to be a big fan of the actor and credits the show for letting people realize Cranston’s brilliance.

People Didn’t Realize Bryan Cranston’s Brilliance Until Breaking Bad

Dame Helen Mirren is one of Hollywood’s powerhouse actresses who already has received enormous accolades and immense respect in the industry. Being one of the best actresses of her generation, she recognizes similar individuals with the same zeal and talent for acting. In 2014, he talked about her film The Hundred-Foot Journey and her excitement to get to work with Bryan Cranston in Trumbo. She told Collider,

Of course, I’ve seen Breaking Bad.  Of course, I have, absolutely.  But I was a fan, I have to say, before Breaking Bad, and what an amazing story that is.  I just saw Bryan recently in LBJ on Broadway.  He was incredible.  He’s one of the great American actors.  For so many years, he was just brilliant, always brilliant, in any role he played.  He was absolutely brilliant.  But people just didn’t understand, for so many years, the level of his brilliance, I guess.  Thank God Breaking Bad came along and revealed to the world, and now we have this treasure.  It’s very exciting.

Now, people champion and celebrate Cranston for his brilliant performances and have started discovering his amazing films and TV projects. Even though people realized his brilliance as an actor way later (even with Breaking Bad), he has now become a fan-favorite actor. As the saying goes, better later than never.

Bryan Cranston Is Playing a Menacing Character in Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle

Bryan Cranston is among the ensemble cast of Matthew Vaughn’s spy comedy film Argylle. From the trailer, he seems to be playing the main antagonist of the film. Vaughn talked about Cranston’s character in the film which he described as menacing and charismatic. He told Vanity Fair,

“You don’t want to fuck with him, let’s put it that way,” Vaughn says. “He’s a nefarious, charming, and clever man who, if he had better values, would’ve been a spy that we all would want in our lives. But he’s, dare I say it—he’s a Donald Rumsfeld, Cheney type of spy.”

The film has Henry Cavill playing a fictional super-spy created by Bryce Dallas Howard. The cast of the film also includes Sam Rockwell, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 2, 2024.