20 More TV Acting Performances That Are Totally Flawless
18. Anna Gunn - Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is a show populated by incredible, career-defining performances, from Bryan Cranston's sneering, powerful turn as Walter White and Aaron Paul's tragic portrayal of lovable meth cook Jesse Pinkman.
One actor who secured her fair share of accolades during the show's run but still feels somewhat underappreciated (which probably has something to do with how many fans took to needlessly hating her character), is Anna Gunn for her portrayal of Walt's conflicted, put-upon wife, Skyler.
In Vince Gilligan's masterful drama, Skyler is constantly put in harm's way by her conniving husband, double-crossed, shot-down and belittled, but she also finds numerous ways to keep her head up, to make the most of a truly horrible situation in hopes of keeping her family safe and together.
Gunn's performance is a masterclass in a show with many, where she's able to balance Skyler's honesty and innocence with her need to first save her husband, then defeat him, and then simply survive him. It's a searing portrayal of strength and desperation, and one Gunn pulls off without fault.