From "Breaking Bad" To "The Boys" – Giancarlo Esposito Breaks Down Some Of His Most Iconic Roles

"I'm honoured to have played a character like this who is regarded as one of the best ever."

It's fair to say that Giancarlo Esposito has had quite the impressive career, spanning multiple genres, and cementing himself in TV and film history. We had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with him and show him some clips from some of his most iconic roles.

BuzzFeed UK

Here are some takeaways from the video, where he breaks down some of his roles:

On Do the Right Thing and his relationship with Spike Lee:

Universal Pictures

"The film hasn't lost any power in its message. And that's a tribute to Spike's writing, and to all the performances in the film as well. I feel like my relationship with him has been very particular, a very dear, dear friendship. And I'm always trying to be in service to what he wants to get from a movie.

We had no clue that this film would be as big as it is until we were halfway through it. And we felt an energy, we felt this energy shift and change, and we were doing something that was really important and they need to be seen. It was a message needed to be heard and seen by our community especially. 

When I started with Spike, we we talked a lot about the ability to see images of ourselves as African Americans, as Black people in America and around the world that really reflected who we really were, and really are."

On Waiting to Exhale:

20th Century Studios

"I loved working with the Forrest Whitaker's directorial debut in a film. I was honoured to be in this particular movie and I didn't see this movie for many, many years after I made it."

Reacting to the scene itself:

"A heartbreaking scene in many ways. And I think the beginning of the idea that, you know, the undercover Black man. With is being so taboo in our community to be gay, and to be open about it back then.

I think it still carries over to parts of today, where, you know, many people are living double lives, where they're married, just to have it look that way, when they really are gay. I mean, we meet them sometimes, people who even have children, but they're naturally gay, you can feel it. So, are they living their authentic life or not?" 

On his role as Gus in Breaking Bad:

AMC

"Gustavo was the beginning of me really realising that people have two sides, and it's all about what moment you are catching them, and what side are they going to be on. Gustavo reminds me so much of myself because he's so fierce in what he wants to get. What he's after and how he runs his business – maybe even a little bit tight, so close to the vest, but regimented. 

So it tells a part of the story of my life in many ways. Discipline's gotten me to where I am. Not only love of my craft and passion, but ultimately, discipline. Gus is a monster and I'm honoured to have played a character like this who is regarded as one of the best ever."

On working on Community:

NBC

"I had such a fun time, in an awkward world that I wasn't used to. It's a comedy world, where it's a very different way of creating characters. This is one of my favourite scenes, though, and I haven't seen this in probably years and years and years. It was very enjoyable to do, and really an interesting piece to step into. 

Donald Glover, you know, come on. Donald's a monster – an incredible talent and an incredibly beautiful, wonderful human being, who cut his teeth here."

Reacting to a scene fromThe Boys:

Amazon Prime Video

"Oh my gosh, Stan Edgar is unflappable! Not afraid of anything. I love this corporate man. He's not the corporate lackey. But he's the corporate head of the company, the dog in charge. Representing Vought in such a great way, and totally unafraid of Homelander, who could zap him at any moment.

To tell him very simply, without even screaming, just very calmly, 'you are not a god, you are simply a product'. I mean, it's just best writing, the best line ever."

On his new role in The Gentlemen:

Jeff Spicer / Jeff Spicer / WireImage

"The Gentlemen is a great collision of criminality and aristocracy in the British Empire of the contemporary time. It is a story that's about family, about loyalty, about trust, and about changing your life, moving into an area that you're completely unsure of. 

I play a guy named Stanley Johnston, who is the richest Black man in the world who can move and groove wherever he needs to, but is so full of grace and aplomb. A shrewd former meth dealer in America coming into the weed business in Britain and not quite getting what he wants right now.

I love a Guy Ritchie movie. This one is a great TV series. It's taken its title from the movie, but you don't need to have seen the movie to understand the series."

Take a look at the trailer for The Gentlemen here:

youtube.com

Take a look at the full interview here:

youtube.com