'Breaking' into Character with Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston - Bryan Cranston stars as Walter White in the new AMC TV series

Film and television actor Bryan Cranston joins Terry Gross to discuss Breaking Bad, his new TV series airing on AMC.

On the show, Cranston stars as Walter White, a high-school chemistry teacher who's diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Oddly liberated, he looks up a former student turned drug dealer — and begins producing a singularly pure grade of crystal meth to help secure his family's financial future.

Cranston previously played the beleaguered father in Malcolm in the Middle. His film credits include Little Miss Sunshine and Saving Private Ryan.

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