BRYAN CRANSTON Breaking new ground

THE FORMER BREAKING BAD STAR OPENS UP ABOUT KEEPING AUDIENCES GUESSING, THE MARRIAGE THAT GROUNDS HIM AND HIS ‘LUCKY’ RECOVERY FROM COVID-19

It takes Bryan Cranston only a few moments to reveal his latest talent, of which the three-time Emmy winner is justifiably proud. “During the pandemic I’ve explored making cocktails in every different combination you can imagine,” says the actor, whose improvised recipes – his latest is a pear-and-lime concoction – are inspired by Dos Hombres, the mezcal company he founded last year with former Breaking Bad co-star Aaron Paul. “It’s really a beautiful thing.”

Regrettably, a bout with COVID-19 last (US) spring has left the 64-year-old with some lasting side effects. “To this day, my sense of taste and smell has only come back 70 per cent,” says Cranston. “It’s coming back but not as quickly as I want it to.”

Still, Cranston says he’s found silver linings in an unpredictable year, from bonding with his wife of 31 years, actress Robin Dearden, to immersing himself in Your Honor, his first television drama series since Breaking Bad. “Since everything slowed down, there’s been a lot of self-reflection,” says the actor. “I work a lot, and I’m grateful. But being with my family, that is what makes me the happiest.”