Bryan Cranston Says He Was Once "Temporarily Insane," Called Cops After Envisioning Killing His Girlfriend

TV star also talks his character's transformation from cancer-stricken chemistry teacher to evil meth manufacturer

By Alyssa Toomey Jul 16, 2013 9:56 PMTags
Bryan Cranston GQNathaniel Goldberg/GQ

In order to play menacing meth lord Walter White on Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston has to channel his inner dark side.

But in the August issue of GQ, the mag's cover star admits transforming into the hit AMC show's sinister villain isn't all too hard.

"What happened to Walt is something I related to," he says of his character's transformation from cancer-stricken chemistry teacher to evil meth manufacturer. "If I'm truly honest with myself. I've come to realize that I think everybody is capable of that. If you came into a condition where you were under tremendous stress. And if I knew what buttons to push that threatened you and yours…You could become an extremely dangerous person."

The 57-year-old actor recalls once particular instance where he found himself scared of his own violent potential.

"I had one girlfriend I wanted to kill," the Argo star admits, sharing how he once dated an unstable drug addict who stalked him and left messages threatening to kill him on his answering machine.

"I envisioned myself killing her," he continues. "It was so clear. My apartment had a brick wall on one side, and I envisioned opening the door, grabbing her by the hair, dragging her inside, and shoving her head into that brick wall until brain matter was dripping down the sides of it. Then I shuddered and realized how clearly I saw that happening. And I called the police because I was so afraid. I was temporarily insane—capable of doing tremendous damage to her and to myself."

Of course, Cranston never committed murder, and he's now able to channel those vicious tendencies into his sinful TV role.

And as the award-winning series swiftly approaches its final episode, Cranston shares how he would like to see the hit drama come to an end.

"I had notions. Like, ‘What if he created this toxic world around him and, because of his actions, everybody he loved died and he had to stay alive?'" he says. "But then I'd think, ‘He's wrought so much, he has to die. Doesn't he?' But if he dies, what does he die of? Maybe he dies of cancer. After all this other danger! But my true answer of how I wanted it to end, my honest answer, is this: however Vince Gilligan [Breaking Bad creator] wants it to end."

Watch: Bryan Cranston's Walk of Fame Ceremony

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