Latest flawed judge role proves that it’s not all White for Bryan
From playing lovable dad Hal in sitcom Malcolm In The Middle to anti-hero Walter White in Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston has proved he is one of TV’S most versatile actors. Now the latest addition to the actor’s CV is a 10-part legal thriller, Your Honour, which sees the 64-year-old play Michael Desiato, a respected New Orleans judge whose teenage son, Adam (Hunter Doohan), is involved in a hit-and-run.
Impulsive decisions are made, leading to a high-stakes game of lies, deceit, and impossible choices.
Cranston’s role as the chemistry teacher turned crystal meth dealer Walter White, won him four Emmy Awards. And in this latest outing he returns to what he does best – playing deeply flawed characters.
He said:“if I read a character who has all the answers, makes the right decisions, is kind to everyone, I’m bored. I don’t want to play that character.
“But someone who has flaws, but tries to be a better person, I think everyone can relate to that – and I think that’s what’s necessary for an audience to invest their time and energy and sympathies toward a character, to root for them. And so that’s what I look for.”
To prepare for the role, Cranston spent time in a New Orleans court room.
He said:“i watched a bunch of different trials in various stages and observed the judges and how they handle themselves.
“From the script, and from experiencing trials and different judges, I just started to pick and choose what elements and personality fit best for the story. And I think Michael, he’s one to sit back and allow the jury and the lawyers to take control of a trial. Unless he needs to make a statement, then he’ll step in.”
Filming for the series had to be suspended when Covid struck in March last year. That meant Bryan and the team were on hiatus for almost five months, before returning to finish the final two and a half episodes. The set they returned to was a world away from what he – or anyone else – could have imagined.
He explained:“we were actually rehearsing in shields that put a barrier between you and the other person.
“We were shooting the last two episodes so it was easier to think,‘ok, let’s just power through with these conditions that are in place’.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to get back to a point where we can hug each other again, but we have to have universal cooperation. It’s not a country effort, it’s not a political effort, it’s a human effort. Let’s do the right thing. Let’s wear our masks. Let’s beat this.”
Your Honour, Sky Atlantic, Tuesday, 9pm, and on Now TV