Aaron Paul on Jesse Pinkman: "To Me, He Felt Like a Real Person"

Actor Aaron Paul talks to Sam Jones about inhabiting the role of Jesse Pinkman on 'Breaking Bad' and some of the unusual ways he got in-touch with playing his character.
Want more Off Camera? offcamera.com
The Off Camera Show is the KZbin channel for Off Camera with Sam Jones. Subscribe now to be updated on the latest videos: bit.ly/1K3VAC9
For full Off Camera episodes, visit offcamera.com
Get Social With Us:
On Facebook: www.facebook.c...
On Twitter: / offcamerashow
On Instagram: / offcamerashow
On KZbin: / theoffcamerashow
Follow Sam Jones on Twitter: / samjones

[@littlean24]

My brother was so much like Jesse Pinkman it was unsettling to watch Breaking Bad. I would cry at certain scenes. My brighter has since passed away from a fentanyl overdose. No tv character has ever struck a chord with me like Jesse Pinkman. He seemed so real to me.

[@amy9215]

❤❤❤

[@fcb5012]

Honestly I kind of felt the same. Sometimes the best people you know, the most kind hearted and moral , fall to drugs. I believe it is because their souls can't handle this ungodly world of ours.

[@yagirlalyxx]

I’m sorry for your loss 💔

[@SM-ce1uy]

@@fcb5012 the most kindhearted and moral ? you kidding me ? you'd be shocked to learn plenty of people would never touch the stuff and are regular people . Let us not romanticize tragic outcomes for people. drugs ruin everything around them

[@pattidalley8593]

I’m so sorry for your loss. I had a nephew die from the same thing and another, thank God, in recovery. It’s heartbreaking 💔

[@juneauz]

One of the best characters ever written, and this guy nailed him perfectly. Legend.

[@chiyo-chanholocaust8143]

I wouldn't call him best character, I mean he was well played as hell sure, but jesse annoyed the shit out of me, he had a good heart, but he's extremely stupid, unprofessional af, a junkie, and overall an immature arrogant little prick. Mike and Saul were the only dudes I really really liked in the show

[@amy-dm3fu]

Chio Chan Genocide I hated mike I don't get how people like him

[@tranuyenphuong3551]

so trueeee!!! Jesse is too emo, any I just cannot stand him when he decided to go against Walter!

[@joemckim1183]

Cranston gets a lot of credit for being great as Walter White, which he definitely is. But BB wouldn't have been as great as it was if it was just hun being great, Paul being great as Pinkman really helped take the show to an even higher level.

[@Obesenigga635]

@@chiyo-chanholocaust8143 mike was a cool dude but Walter,Jesse are always the best

[@franklinsukmynutz5062]

This dude made breaking bad for me. Yeah bryan cranston was great but i really connected with Jesse and that is what got me hooked.

[@dermotgodfrey1454]

yep me to Franklin ,one of the great TV battles of all time... the conscience of Jesse Pinkman VS The cogent megalomania of Walter White!!

[@curvytangerine]

Same!

[@sketchedInsanity]

Same Jesse is such a great character

[@rachelc586]

Same

[@GlennDavey]

Wept like a baby so many times because of this dude. Hands down the best relationship

[@BobRobie1]

there is definitely a Jesse Pinkman out there somewhere

[@jaymcd8577]

My brother was, for a few years, then he had kids and got out of that scene..best thing ever happened to'em.

[@fongdimbulator]

Pinkman is every loser than never encountered a Walter. He's the Morty in the Sanchez househould picking at grandpas garage lock.

[@chronicpack4884]

There are so many people out there like him u just dont know.

[@totallynotanf.b.iagent6204]

There is a Jesse in all of us

[@HK-gm8pe]

There is lot of "jesse" s out there, but he did such an amazing job, my favourite haracter in breaking bad with Mike

[@JRibs]

Regardless of how his career ends up, Jesse Pinkman is one of the greatest characters ever to be aired on television. Most of us enjoyed Jesse's scenes more than Walter's. Aaron Paul is a legend in my book, purely for being a God-level actor for over 5 years on what is now considered the most critically acclaimed show of all time.

[@nklslinde21]

@J Ribs True dat

[@JRibs]

lol linde

[@shnebs3013]

J Ribs I say the greatest not one of them

[@RYYSZLA]

2nd most critically acclaimed show of all time, Tied with The Sopranos. The Wire has a higher meta-rating.

[@forman208]

The Wire was boring as fuck. How anyone could like that show better than the Sopranos or especially Breaking Bad is beyond me

[@julesk2629]

I think what he described- how Jesse felt like a real person to him- is a big part of why Jesse is so beloved. He feels like a real person to us too, someone we care about deeply

[@HK-gm8pe]

as an ex-fentanyl addict I have seen people like him and often its sad that they get soo disregarded...like once youre junkie , your always the junkie but that isnt thecase....so many people get clean and soo many of these people have actually good hearts as well like Jesse did...actually I would even say that Jesse was one of the few who cared about innocent lives in BB ...h was just an ovrgrown kid who wanted to be cool...got into wrong crowd and then fell deeper and deeper...I also could relate Jesse calling to janes number eventhough h knows Janes dead...my husband was shot 5 yars ago and I called on his numbr the exact same way, , shows most heartbreaking scenes were with Jesse

[@samlindley9597]

Aaron Paul really puts the "meth" in method acting.

[@alulim7]

ahaha

[@W.A.T.P...55]

Sam Lindley lmfas,,,,,great post...

[@LukesEnglishPodcast]

Sam Lindley Nailed it. 👏👏👏

[@DancingSpiderman]

Sam Lindley 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 good one!

[@panicattheimpala4111]

Sam Lindley 😂😂

[@stratonarrow]

Aaron Paul is so deserving of every award he won for playing Jesse. Absolutely one of the best characters in TV/film history. Breaking Bad, to me, is the milestone at which point television surpassed Hollywood in terms of what is possible.

[@bren7080]

Breaking Bad is the storefront example of storytelling at an almost perfect level. The writers were geniuses, the music was excellent, all the scenes were shot beautifully, and the actors were absolutely amazing. It was definitely one of, if not, THE BEST pieces of media ever aired.

[@HotStrange]

Taylor Straton Yeah it really helped usher in this golden era of TV. Along with Mad Men.

[@panicattheimpala4111]

Taylor Straton agreeed

[@M0Sesdef]

Thats crazy that breaking bad came out before The Wire.

[@juliareadscottishpiperandh4861]

@@bren7080 totally agree. We've just finished watching season 3. There is a shot in there where Jesse is cleaning a circular drum in the meth lab and instead of just shooting him at a distance they mounted a camera on the drum and as he scrubs it we get a shot of Jesse rotating in the camera. I mean, that is just pure genius and it is also the complete A game all the time in terms of production. It is just so not lazy at all. Every shot, every piece of action, every word, every episode is at the A game. Incredible.

[@Junkie4Beauty]

this man's voice is everything!!

[@gelalim88]

HSavage I know!

[@awesomo39]

+Abdikhaliq Abdalla you look like roger the alien lol

[@blakemcnamara9105]

He should do voice acting for like a Batman character or something.

[@JCTravelhat]

He is blessed with both a superb voice and amazing looks... most of us get neither =/

[@Warrior97489]

@@JCTravelhatI dont think he's that handsome but his voice is so HOT

[@Zilan2]

Aaron Paul is such an authentic and honest person. Hats off to him.

[@whanowa]

His voice is so sonorous. I love that.

[@tzimiable]

Thanks for teaching me a new word, never heard sonorous before. I like it :)

[@dannyclub09]

I didn't expect Aaron Paul to be a method actor. He deserves his success though, amazing actor.

[@blakemcnamara9105]

ConspiracyJuice Still Dustin Hoffman, Marlon Brandon, and Al Pacino are much better as method actors. Actually, come to think of it, if Jesse Pinkman were a character in the 1950s Brando or James Dean would have played him.

[@EhCanadianGamer]

No matter how phenomenal Bryan Cranston was. It's fair to assume that Arron Paul's character resonated with allot more people than Walter White did. Sure older guys in the beginning of the show can really relate with Walt, the feeling of wasted potential, an amazing chemist stuck teaching High School. But everytime I watch Breaking Bad, the one character I always rooted for was Jesse. Especially by season 4 when it got really fucked. Just seeing Jesse having this continuous party in his house, surrounding himself with crackheads and degenerates. Simply just to distract himself from the darkness of his life as a meth cook. It's by that point, you realize Jesse isn't really a criminal. He just simply did what he thought was the only thing he could do.

[@ks_392]

He’s such a sweet and humble guy. You can tell from the way he speaks and the words he chooses

[@labarians1814]

I really feel for Jesse, so do a lot of other breaking bad fans. Ultimately he is just some one who was brought into all those mixed-up in the world. He might've made some mistakes, but he never set out to hurt anyone and always tries to minimize the damage, care for other people (unlike any other characters in the show), but sometimes the choice is just not in his hands. I'm so relieved that Jesse lived, that leaves me with some hope in the end. To me, Aaron Paul will forever be that kid who has a Pink to his name.

[@daydreams1825]

His voice is amazing omfg

[@GermanCHiiiLLeR]

one of the most underrated actors alive... we need to see more of him tbh

[@maximusdecimusmeridius4325]

YEAHHH BITCH!!!

[@calvin3005]

Todd downvoted this.

[@panicattheimpala4111]

calvin3005 right

[@Fabo100]

I will never forget when I was watching BB and the part where Jane dies I was literally screaming at the t.v "HELP HER WALT!!!! HELP HER!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!?!??!" and that was when everything changed. Before that I would usually get mad at Jesse for his stupid mistakes but after that I was 100% rooting for Jesse.....but crazy enough I still loved Walt, I just never forgot that and knew all that awful karma was going to come back and really fuck him up...show ended perfect. Jesse lives Walt dies. FIN

[@chronicpack4884]

It was sadder when Andrea died.

[@strawberryshoelaces1017]

The fact that he really lived like Jesse for the part shows how dedicated he is to acting and I can't imagine what it must have been like for him when he had to act as Jesse when all the bad things happened must have taken a tole on his mental health. He is such an amazing actor

[@DelaneyB.444]

Jesse Pinkman as a character reminds me of my dad who died of addiction. Wonderful man with a kind heart but bad things always happened to him which is how he turned to addiction. I was just a child but did everything a kid could do to try and get him help but to no avail. When I watch Breaking Bad, Jesse is the character that I connect with the most and I can feel his pain because he suffers like my dad did and has a big heart like my father did. Aaron Paul is an incredibly talented actor to be able to portray such an exceptionally complex, flawed yet good hearted, vulnerable character. I find myself relating a lot to him a-lot as a character as well. Wonderfully written and performed role in the show

[@r0wd3]

Should have asked if he dreamed about Todd from BoJack Horseman

[@Lackingx]

r0wd3 Holy shit he is totally fucking Todd off Bojack Horseman

[@panicattheimpala4111]

r0wd3 right😂😂😂😂

[@panicattheimpala4111]

KZbin is trash he does play him, yeah

[@VioletEmerald]

I'm so fascinated in how he feels about playing Todd

[@erik666111]

Jesse Pinkman's transformation was simply remarkable! I got nothing but respect for Aaron Paul's talent. He is amazing

[@lovinliverpool]

It broke my heard when he killed Gayle, being forced so he could stay alive with Walt. Gayle begging and Jesse crying was just so emotional. It was so hard to see two people in that situation. Jesse's reaction had me me crying like a baby.

[@j-doomster1624]

Very powerful acting. I would say it is fair to assume that Aaron Paul changed my life with his character.

[@ChanelROETV]

J- Doomster same. His character touched me on deep levels

[@abbybluecovers]

Great interviewer, filming, and editing. Love the black and gray effect with the pops of color in text. Very unique. Great setup.

[@Roll587]

I've never seen Breaking Bad and I don't know anything about this character, but this is fascinating.

[@FrankieHiltz]

You really need to give it a shot. It's a very slow show, takes the whole first season to get going, but once it does.. Just wow. One of the best written, jaw dropping TV show I've ever seen. Nothing has ever tugged at my heart strings as much, or made me feel sympathy and fear for characters like this show has.

[@crownedmafia]

then you havent actually lived at all

[@JusRed48]

DEFINITELY WATCH IT. It's a fantastic show and the characters and performances that go into them has a lot to do with it!

[@Irreverententity]

There are 3 shows I think everyone needs to watch. The Wire, The Sopranos, and Breaking Bad.

[@MrTastyCarp]

First season was my favorite tbh

[@danielwareking]

"You should try acting, it's much easier."

[@mariesasse9523]

he really did an amazing job playing Jesse. this interview shows once again why it was so great

[@bennytoe]

you really need to get more recognition for the work you do here. i love this interview snip

[@GlennDavey]

I just realised that Rob Weithoff (John Marston from Red Dead Redemption) is the Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad) of the game world. Some actors really do get that break and show why their voices and acting are special.

[@DwideShrude]

That’s honestly so impressive that he would do that just for a role. That’s really pushing boundaries just for authenticity. I’m glad he got back into a healthy mindset, but I’m sure getting a closer view of life on the streets enabled him to dive deeper into his character for sure and get a real taste of walking in those shoes. Didn’t disappoint 👏🏻

[@shanmugapriya4369]

i love aaron paul. He was the best in breaking bad. Jesse pinkman is one of the greatest characters. He taught a lot to us

[@giorgigudiashvili4876]

His character in particular was amazingly well cast!

[@Ward413]

So crazy that this hidden talent had been lingering for years, not being utilized. I was watching Mission Impossible III the other day and he popped up for a five second scene with Tom Cruise, which I had totally forgotten about. If you guys search for the table read of the last episode of BB, thats where it becomes clear how invested Aaron was in the character of Jesse Pinkman. It’s just the table read and he’s still performing at an Academy Award level. The irony is that while Bryan Cranston was viewed as the journeyman actor, and rightfully so, it’s actually Aaron who made his co-stars jobs as actors easier, because when someone is so invested in their character like Aaron, consistently giving you 100%, all you have to do is just react. It almost takes the acting out of it. You just feel like you’re doing a scene with Jesse Pinkman, oppose to doing a scene with Aaron Paul playing Jesse Pinkman.

[@Ahiru77]

All black and white. He put in the extra effort, but he really captured Jesse from the first scene so Bryan was right to tell him not to "method" anymore.

[@alexpattle96]

Another insightful answer, well done Sam!! Love these interviews

[@seanpanigel5494]

He is so right. I felt the same way about the characters. Like they were real people. Real people that were a part of my life. When something happened to one of the characters in the show, it broke me like it's something that happened to a family member. Very accurate description of how connected I felt with breaking bad and it's world and characters.

[@Jasmin-fd3ny]

Shows like breaking bad are rare. The writing, the cast, it was true gold.

[@aemonk8207]

This interviewer did not know what he was getting himself into. Look at him at 1:28. I cracked up.

[@shaylazaidi3170]

You know the costume design is good when the actor feels like he IS the character in costume

[@EdmundKempersDartboard]

Bro, that scene when he finds her dead is hands down the greatest display of acting ability I have ever seen. That was brutal.

[@MattePaavi]

he put everything into this character. best actor ever.

[@Hoodrichstackchips]

He was an real person you don’t know how many people are connected to Jesse character from something similar they can relate to there own lives makes him very much real.

[@that_marvel_girl_9177]

I just now discovered "Breaking Bad" and this show really does have an amazing cast!

[@impala-op4xo]

Same, I finished the show two days ago and watched El Camino yesterday.

[@El1society]

i watched the show for the first time a year ago and i have rewatched it 3 times since lol i wish i could erase my memory so i could experience that masterpiece for the first time again

[@judylaughlin9733]

i would like to say that this series is the BEST ever and as viewer we were there for all of you....i watched breaking bad 3x and loved it every time! thank you

[@frankforhees8219]

Judy Laughlin except skylar

[@panicattheimpala4111]

Judy Laughlin me too though it's like one of my favorites oof

[@edwardkinsey5680]

That’s dedication to a role. By going to scary places

[@reneelucero2923]

Jeez, his voice is pure honey...

[@ladycoolgirlify]

ok, i´ve cried... Jesse Pinkman, i love you bitch

[@waynejamel6703]

I could never really like Walt again after letting Jesse's girl die. That to me was his most cold hearted move.

[@gl3390]

I was sad for like a week thinking about Jesse as well. It broke my heart. Somehow it felt like he was a real person to me too.

[@lbabytutorials4852]

My God breaking bad felt so real. The stars were aligned for that casting.

[@vinigmoura]

Jesse is one of my fav characters ever!

[@panicattheimpala4111]

Hes so pretty, also I cant imagine leaving work and going to the alleys of Abq like

[@Ofinfinitejest]

James Gandolfini also suffered a mental toll in playing Tony Soprano. These actors with difficult roles in long running series are going through things most film actors can't experience.

[@Ofinfinitejest]

Sorry for replying to "me," but wanted to offer this "table read" video, where actors test out some emotions, and the level of Aaron Paul's psychological investment ( go to 24 minutes in to the video ): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHjLgJesr9Gfpac

[@dextermorgan1716]

Imagine meeting Aaron as Jesse in those ABQ alleys at 3-4 am talking like Jesse. That is absolutely priceless, thinking about that right now and I’m getting actual goosebumps! :)

[@atme365]

He was amazing, better than I ever could have expected

[@genuinelyjag]

2:17 Sam Jones thinking, "You sad little man"

[@fenderfox5080]

Aaron played Jessie better than anyone could have, better than any"Hollywood" actor could ever play him. I was lucky enough to visit Albuquerque for a month last year and got to see the Walter White house and the car wash and the breaking bad store in old town , started watching BB again the other night with a friend to see his reaction, can't wait to go on that journey with him watching these characters develop especially Jessie Pinkman .

[@The3rdGunman]

Vince Gilligan is responsible for two of the greatest shows ever made...Breaking Bad & X-Files

[@andricmr]

aaron sounds like matthew mcconaughey

[@helkskss7136]

But jesse pinkman is real character , we have so many different lives in this planet and I did love his performance it was soo full of life you could feel jesse and what hes feeling

[@marcelletalksmma]

All the beautiful blue eyes in breaking bad Jesse,Saul,Brandon,Walt,Skyler, Hank,Mike, etc😊

[@Mokilla2525]

Aaron should narrate a documentary.

[@martyleyeti]

Best role in the TV Show history

[@kellyharper8072]

I hope he becomes a character actor. They usually if great at are around forever. He’s a very solid actor.

[@KellyFTW]

I love this guy♡

[@cntesco.ltd.9386]

Jesse was real in his heart and it showed

[@juliedavies1575]

Just finished watching breaking bad one of the best things I have watched Aaron Paul never seen you before and you were amazing just want more now

[@italiangirl2694]

❤❤❤breaking bad is everything

[@candletabletop154]

What a beautiful man

[@W.A.T.P...55]

Breaking bad is the best tv show ever made,,,the detail in the writing is outstanding,,,even the ending is the best ending I've ever seen,,,it answers all the questions,,,not many shows can do that,,,,btw I never thought anything would beat the wire,,,but breaking bad blew me away......

[@dermotgodfrey1454]

I was so surprised I had never seen Breaking Bad until about a month ago ,I have been a mad Sopranos zealot for years, and I never thought anything would surpass that in terms of writing and performance ...well I was wrong.

[@W.A.T.P...55]

Dermot Godfrey as I said dermot it totally blew me away,,,,,best show ever made

[@Khris_HeimdallDetachment]

Oh you trying to put ...?

[@weathersytv3572]

commacommacommacommacomma

[@Lackingx]

derek miller no

[@marty88ish]

Still one of the best shows ever created.

[@waynejamel6703]

i hope he continues to get great roles and for him to knock it out of the park

[@alexanderdeadmansche]

He killed it! Jesse is my fave character by a mile. Jesse does such horrible stuff but he is always acting out of desperation. He is a total sweetheart and the show makes me feel sorry for him

[@Aaron-fb1pq]

Greatest acting performance of all time

[@jacquelineking4008]

I love this kid! I wish he was my son..or neighbor,friend..he has such depth ,humour, and cares..

[@thecowboy9698]

I have to wonder wear is career is gonna go after Breaking Bad. The problem is is that even though Jesse Pinkman is probably one of his best roles ever, and one that he is widely recognized for, the downside to that is that it may have stereotyped him. So, with that being said, I just have to wonder how is he gonna be able to break away from Breaking Bad - from Jesse Pinkman - and be able to Don roles where people will be able to see him, and NOT think of him as Jesse Pinkman?

[@VioletEmerald]

Well he's been doing the voice of a character in BoJack Horseman which is a pretty great gig to be honest... It's sorta similar to Jesse in some ways but it's... A lot less intense and a lot less dark and i think it will lead into range

[@johnklinger943]

Where is the full interview?

[@jaykay6387]

One of the greatest pieces of acting in the history of television. No doubt. Great actor.

[@Kaan_is_myname97]

He really gave it all to his character

[@onemorecowswag]

haha when he was talking about bumming around albuquerque exchanging cigs with crackheads, that’s my life! he was probably in the alleys around my neighborhood

[@ndagarwal7]

This guy is the new Michael Douglas.

[@DancingSpiderman]

Neil Deep Yeah, Aaron Paul definitely has this very young Michael Douglas about him!

[@mrsbenedictcumberbatch9565]

I want to believe that Aaron Paul has the same heart as Jesse. I am in love

[@micahmcleod2829]

This man is just too damn cool.

[@munkiiie24]

please make a asmr with his voice please...... ;___;

[@lilyraimey3499]

Dude, his fekken voice. 👌🏾😤

[@denisesancan9715]

Aaron---Jessie felt like a real person to me also, also, as a fan and a viewer. That is because you played Jessie so brilliantly. You made him real. But, you are also real, Aaron- and I appreciate you and your family. You have given me much joy, Bitch!!!

[@AngusStewart01]

You sir got a loyal subscriber

[@daniellee1722]

I sent my friend this video because he used to dress like Jesse

[@789armygirl]

Jesse isn't innately a likeable character, but he's a character you can't help but like. Aaron's performance of Jesse is so ridiculously good, it's hard for me to imagine he's NOT him, but it's powerful to see that even Aaron took on Jesse in his personal life. One of the most amazing performances in TV history as far as just owning the character 1000%.

[@eugenkrause5556]

Should have asked him about that "The Price is Right" part.

[@fuckthisc1ty]

break-in bad was shot like a movie so i think that and good writing is what made the show so entertaining and nothing like anything that was on TV at the time I remember watching one episode for the first time and thinking it was a movie the way it grabs you and the way it's written master piece

[@HowYouuuDoinnn]

AR’s hair looks hella epic!

[@WutangBizkit]

didnt know he did a method actor approach in the early seasons of the show. thats fucking cool

[@marleneg7794]

Very shady areas of Albuquerque be like..everywhere.

[@Eva-ck3qb]

Todd Chavez 😲

[@mohammadjavadmonjezi]

I have a new found respect for Aaron Paul👏🏻👏🏻

[@willettej7988]

How could Walter White have been who he was without Jesse? Impossible.