Anthony Hopkins is considered one of the best actors of our time, so sometimes it’s easy to forget he enjoys good TV just like the rest of us. He decided to show his appreciation for one of his favorites.
More than 10 million people watched the series finale of of Breaking Bad, and it looks like you can count Anthony Hopkins in that group of fans. The iconic actor decided to show his appreciation for Bryan Cranston in a fan letter sent to the actor.
In the letter, Hopkins tells Cranston he just watched all five seasons, all at once.
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“A total of two weeks (addictive) viewing,” he wrote, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “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 bulls*** 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.”
Hopkins isn’t just a fan of Cranston’s, but of many of the other castmembers as well. He wrote that, “everyone gave master classes of performance” and he hopes that Cranston will “pass on my admiration to everyone.”
The man who brought legendary characters like Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Richard Nixon and Alfred Hitchcock to life on the big screen felt that Vince Gilligan’s storytelling was a masterpiece.
“From what started as a black comedy, descended into a labyrinth of blood, destruction and hell,” he wrote. “It was like a great Jacobean, Shakespearian or Greek Tragedy.”
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The letter first appeared on the Facebook page of Breaking Bad star Steven Michael Quezada, but has since been deleted. It has since been confirmed that Hopkins did write the letter, but he hasn’t yet commented further on his love for the show or why he decided to write to Cranston.
You can see Hopkins’ next in Thor: The Dark World.
Read the actor’s full letter here.
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. (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 bulls*** 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 overused 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, RJ 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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