ACTOR STORY | How Aaron Paul Got His Big Break 

By Webmaster

  • ACTOR STORY 
    How Aaron Paul Got His Big Break 

    Ten years of darkness before the light finally broke through

    (by Carmichael Phillips)


    (Aaron Paul in El Camino)

    Jesse Pinkman is not his actual name. But that’s the name that probably comes into your mind when you see his face.

  • His real name is Aaron Paul. And he is not an actual crystal meth dealer like Pinkman, the character he played on the classic television crime drama, Breaking Bad. In real life, he is a highly talented and successful actor.

    But that wasn’t always the case. He wasn’t always a television and movie star. Once upon a time, he was just another starving actor, struggling to keep enough food on his dinner plate, while waiting for his big break.

    His big break would come during pilot season and was 10 years in the making, as Paul explained in a recent interview with The Off-Camera Show

    “When I read the pilot (for Breaking Bad), I had been fighting at this business for 10 years,” said Paul.

    Ten years of sacrifice; ten years of darkness before the light finally broke through. Prior to that, Paul was fighting to keep his career afloat. And money was always a very real issue for him.

    “I was at the lowest point of my career, in terms of finances. I didn’t know where my next check was going to come in and how I was going to pay my bills.”

  • It may have been the pressure of the moment. It may have been the persistent worrying about bills. But whatever it was, Aaron Paul’s audition for the Breaking Bad pilot did not go very smoothly. In fact, to Paul, it was a major fail.


    Oh my god, I just fucked this up! And so, I walk out and I’m just biting my nails ’cause I was desperate.

    (Aaron Paul)


    “The pressure was on; a room full of people; stadium seating.”

    Paul was nervous. The moment was too big for him. He even dropped a line, which prompted him to apologize during the audition.

    When he was done, he left the audition room, thinking he may have just ruined his last chance to solve his financial dilemmas.

    “Oh my god, I just fucked this up! And so, I walk out and I’m just biting my nails ’cause I was desperate. I mean, I really have no money. I don’t have any money,” Paul exclaimed.

  • And so, it wasn’t just that I was in love with the material (for Breaking Bad). I also had to have this happen.”

    But a personal connection with the show’s creator, Vince Gilligan, is what helped Aaron Paul overcome his unimpressive, initial read and saved his career. Gilligan liked Aaron Paul so much that he insisted on him getting the role of Jesse Pinkman in spite of the fact that none of the other decision-makers wanted him.


    (Aaron Paul in Need for Speed, 2014)

    The show was a smash. And Aaron Paul went on to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Since then, he has starred on television shows, like HBO’s Westworld and in films, including Need for Speed (2014) and a reprisal of the role of Jesse Pinkman for the Netflix Original, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019).


  • You Might Also Like:
    Actor Stories: How Chadwick Boseman Almost Gave Up on Acting Before He Became a Legend


     

    Recommended Posts

  • Ad

  • Is New York or California Better for Acting?

    Is New York or California Better for Acting? A look at the pros and cons of pursuing an acting career in New York vs. California (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Pixaba | Pexels) For…

    Do You Have to Memorize a Monologue for an Audition?

    Question: Do You Have to Memorize a Monologue for an Audition? (By Ray Reese) (Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels) RELATED: Memorize your lines in 5 easy steps! How long does it take for…

    What is a Modesty Pouch for Actors?

    Question: What is a Modesty Pouch for Actors? (By Carmichael Phillips) RELATED:  What do actors wear during love scenes? What do actors do in love scenes? Why do actors fall in love on…

    Who Are the Most Famous Fi-Core Actors?

    Who Are the Most Famous Fi-Core Actors? Some of the most notable actors who have been associated with Fi-Core (By Carmichael Phillips) (Jon Voight) RELATED: What is Financial Core? What is a Fi-Core…

    Can Fi-Core Actors Work During a Strike?

    Question: Can Fi-Core Actors Work During a Strike? (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Tony Zohari | Pexels) RELATED: What is Financial Core? What is a Fi-Core Actor What does it mean to go Fi-Core…

  • Ad

  • How Does an Actor Become Fi-Core?

    How Does an Actor Become Fi-Core? Understanding the process (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Ron Lach | Pexels) RELATED: What is Financial Core? What is a Fi-Core Actor What does it mean to go…

    How Long Should You Spend on a Self-Tape?

    How Long Should You Spend on a Self-Tape? Let’s review a hypothetical breakdown (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Anna Shvets | Pexels) RELATED: Where Do You Look When Self-Taping? Should I Sit or Stand…

    Why Do Actors Say “Peas and Carrots?”

    Why Do Actors Say “Peas and Carrots?” Common phrases actors use to simulate conversation (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Nataliya Vaitkevich | Pexels) RELATED: Why Do Actors Say, “Break a Leg?” Why Do Actors…

  • Ad

  • Is It Okay to Do a Self-Tape Without a Reader?

    Is It Okay to Do a Self-Tape Without a Reader? The short answer is: yes, but… (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Ron Lach | Pexels) RELATED: 7 Ways to Do a Self-Tape Without a…

    Can I Use Props in Self-Tape Auditions?

    Question: Can I Use Props in Self-Tape Auditions? (By Carmichael Phillips) Question: Can I use props in a self-tape? Answer: The short answer is yes, but with a few important considerations. While props…

    What are 5 Acting Techniques Every Actor Should Know?

    What are 5 Acting Techniques Every Actor Should Know? These five techniques can enhance your skills and versatility (By Tia McMullen) (Photo: Cottonbro Studio | Pexels) Acting is both an art and a…

    What Are the Best Qualities of an Actor?

    What Are the Best Qualities of an Actor? The best qualities of an actor go far beyond talent alone (By Carmichael Phillips) Great acting is more than just memorizing lines or hitting marks…

    Why Are Acting Headshots So Expensive?

    Question: Why Are Acting Headshots So Expensive? (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Karolina Kaboompics | Pexels) Many actors are surprised to find that professional headshots can be quite expensive, often costing hundreds or even…

  • Ad

  • Can I Realistically Become an Actor?

    Can I Realistically Become an Actor? Why success in acting doesn’t always correlate with talent alone (By Ray Reese) (Photo: Chris Ainsworth | Unsplash) If you’re wondering whether becoming an actor is a…

    Why Do People Stop Acting?

    Question: Why Do People Stop Acting? (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Yan Krukau | Pexels) Many people step away from acting—sometimes after years of dedication. The reasons behind this decision are varied and deeply…

    What Do Actors Do in Love Scenes?

    What Do Actors Do in Love Scenes? Behind the camera, love scenes require careful planning (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Gabriel Bastelli | Pexels) Love scenes are among the most intimate and emotionally charged…

  • Ad

  • What is the Point of Acting?

    What is the Point of Acting? How acting provides escapism (By Javier Guerra) (Photo: Ron Lach | Pexels) At its core, acting serves as a means of storytelling. Whether on stage, in film,…

    Why Do Actors Fall in Love on Set?

    Question: Why Do Actors Fall in Love on Set? (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Shvets Anna | Pexels) RELATED:  What do actors wear during love scenes? What do actors do in love scenes? Why…

    How Long Does It Take to Learn Meisner?

    How Long Does It Take to Learn Meisner? Why learning the Meisner Technique is a long-term commitment (By Tonya Tannenbaum) (Photo: Fauxels | Pexels) The Meisner Technique is a highly regarded method of…

    What Does It Mean to Go Fi-Core as an Actor?

    What Does It Mean to Go Fi-Core as an Actor? This decision comes with specific implications that every actor should understand (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels) RELATED: What is Financial…

    How Long Does the Casting Process Take?

    Question: How Long Does the Casting Process Take? (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Koolshooters | Pexels) Question: How Long Does the Casting Process Take? Answer: The duration of the casting process depends on several…

  • Ad