Aaron Paul Video Interview On ‘Smashed,’ ‘Breaking Bad’

In Smashed, Aaron Paul stars alongside Mary Elizabeth Winestead, and the duo plays a married couple coping with their dependency on alcohol. Smashed, which chronicles the ensuing difficulties that come up when Paul and Elizabeth try to change their ways, has been well-received by critics and serves as a promising platform for Paul in a leading role — for which he did some unusual prep work. “You know, I drank a lot,” Paul told uInterview exclusively. “I did and I drank a lot more than I ever drank in my life. You know, I never went to college so this was kind of my college years all crammed into a couple weeks of preparation.”

Born in Emmett, Idaho, Paul was drawn to acting while attending Centennial High School when he became an active participant in the theater department. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as an usher at a movie theater before getting work as an actor. He first appeared on television in a 1999 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 and followed this up with bit appearances in popular television shows such as Melrose Place, Suddenly Susan and 3rd Rock from the Sun. He later landed small roles in major motion pictures such as K-Pax and Mission: Impossible III, as well as a recurring role on the HBO series Big Love, playing Scott Quitman, the husband of Amanda Seyfried’s character, Sarah Henrickson.

However, Paul’s career really took off in 2008 when he was cast as Jesse Pinkman in the AMC smash hit Breaking Bad, alongside Bryan Cranston. Paul’s character was supposed to be killed off after one season, but the show’s creator, Vince Gilligan, decided to keep him on because of his on-screen rapport with Cranston. Gilligan exhibited outstanding foresight with his decision, as Paul has since garnered two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2010, 2012) for his turn as Pinkman.

The awards were a tremendous honor for Paul, who admitted he was not expecting to receive them and was ultimately overwhelmed after he won — especially the second time. “I didn’t prepare at all,” Paul told uInterview exclusively. “I was convinced both times I won that I wasn’t going to win. The second time just to hear them call my name for a second time, it was a struggle to not break down and become a sobbing mess, but it did tell me that, Ok I am going to be a crier at my wedding, and it’s going to be super embarrassing. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

After Smashed, Paul’s next major film role will be in the adaptation of the popular video game series Need for Speed. But for now you can catch Paul in Smashed, as well as the second half of Breaking Bad’s fifth season, set to air the summer of 2013.