Aaron Paul continues to ‘meth’-merise

Actor talks life after Breaking Bad and his upcoming role as an inebriated single father in film Hellion.

LOS ANGELES: For actor Aaron Paul, life after Breaking Bad has brought him darker, more broken characters. The 34 year old has won two Emmy awards for playing drug-addled teen Jesse, a role that earned him a cult fan base. Following his stint as the meth-dealing Jesse Pinkman on the gritty AMC drug drama, Paul will now be seen in an American drama film titled Hellion.

In the show, Paul plays Hollis, an alcoholic single father who struggles to connect with his two young sons, causing his eldest, 13-year-old Jacob, to rebel while his youngest is taken away by child welfare services. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and hit the United States theatres on Friday. In the following interview, Paul speaks about playing a father, working with children and directing.

Hollis feels like a step away from your role as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad. What drew you towards the character?

I instantly connected to the story and these characters, especially connected to Hollis. I loved Hollis and his pain was living, breathing on every single level. He somewhat abandons his boys, which is why Jacob rebels. He lost his mother, but he kind of lost his father as well. Both the kids are in desperate need of some sort of guidance.

You work extensively in the film with the two young actors that play your sons (Josh Wiggins and Deke Garner). How did you develop a relationship with them?

The main thing Kat [Candler, the director] wanted us to do before we started shooting is get some quality face time and do what fathers and sons do. I also told Kat I don’t want to get an incredible relationship before we start because Hollis is kind of absent in a way. So, I’d take them to the arcade and bowling to kind of get to know them. I just love those kids.

After hanging up your meth goggles as Jesse, what characters are you finding yourself drawn to?

I’m definitely open for everything, but I tend to find myself gravitating towards the more affected side of things – characters that are affected – that’s kind of like how life is. I like feeling those emotions because in my day-to-day life, I feel very fortunate and generally pretty happy, so I like diving into the heavier side of things when it comes to work.

It has been nearly a year since we said goodbye to Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, but they still crop up in pop culture. How have you responded to that?

It’s so crazy to me. I would have never dreamt of anything like this. I’ve been wanting to be an actor ever since I could remember and when I first started acting, I was doing small odd jobs such as acting with merely a few lines, or guest staring with a couple of scenes. Back then when no one knew who I was, I truly felt like I was living out my dream. I was doing what I loved and that was great. But now, it’s just such a different thing.

Do you have any aspirations to step behind the camera?

Yes, one day for sure. I was teased about when I would direct an episode of Breaking Bad and I wish I had jumped at that opportunity. However, [the show] deserved someone who really knew what they were doing. But I’m starting to produce, which is very exciting. I love putting things together... it’s so much fun.  

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2014.

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