10 Best Performances In Breaking Bad

2. Bryan Cranston - Walter White

To think that Walter White and Hal from Malcolm In The Middle are played by the same man is still utterly baffling, but the latter undoubtedly informed the latter - at least up until the point where he lost himself to Heisenberg.

Cranston's genius as White is in his transformation. He goes from completely unassuming school teacher with the world on his shoulders to a brutal, ruthless killing machine and he does it in such a way that it's not at all illogical. Because he doesn't change completely, he changes only in moments.

The performance takes its leads from the character, in that White pretends to be Heisenberg only when he needs to and the same trick is played on the audience for the sake of our empathy. We're still able to see Walter, this likeable, charming, even slightly bumbling man and root for him, but every now and then we see flashes of the truth of Heisenberg. That he never wades fully into those waters irredeemable is the real mark of excellence.