Reel Talk: Sherry Thomas Talks Breaking Bad and The Art of Casting
From Breaking Bad, to The Handmaid’s Tale, to Barry, and The Four Seasons, Sherry Thomas built the powerhouse casts that play a part in making a show beloved for ages. Reel Talk’s Ally Bonsall sat down with Thomas at the ATX TV Festival to chat all things casting, Breaking Bad, and Thomas’s incredible career.
Casting directors have a power to see potential in not only new actors, but also seasoned actors who might’ve been pigeonholed into particular roles. Thomas shared her experience casting Kerri Kenney-Silver in Netflix’s The Four Seasons. While the show definitely thrives off its comedic tone, there’s so much heart and emotional depth blended into the story. Kenny, who is mainly known for supporting roles in the comedy space, stepped into the leading lady role for the hit dramedy. Thomas noted, “There was definitely an understanding of believing that there was more than what audiences, producers, writers, and directors had seen in her. She is very well known in the comedy space, but having spoken with her a couple of times in different auditions along the way when I read the script, I just had her in my head.” Thomas saw potential in Kenny to take on more than what Hollywood had seen from her, and given the show’s massive success and season two renewal, it’s safe to say following her gut instinct paid off.
Breaking Bad is a cultural phenomenon. It’s extensively studied in film courses for its clever storytelling, dynamic characters, and stellar cast, which make the story what it is. Can you even imagine a world where Aaron Paul’s Jesse was killed off in season one? That was almost the case! Thomas gushed about Paul’s portrayal of Jesse and her experience connecting him to the project. “When a talented actor meets the perfect part that they’re meant to play, you see it immediately. Aaron Paul was able to tap into Jesse in a way that was so authentic. You didn’t know where Aaron ended and Jesse began.” Once showrunner Vince Gilligan saw Paul and Bryan Cranston’s chemistry, the rest was history.
Casting directors constantly advocate for talent they believe in, regardless of if they’re well known or not. They see the potential for someone to be the perfect puzzle piece to fit into a story. Thomas saw that in Paul well before she was casting for Breaking Bad. Once she was in a position to cast for Breaking Bad, Paul was a little older than the script described Jesse, but Thomas took a chance. “I am learning more as I go that there are directions on the page for characters, but then there’s also our ideas and our knowledge of actors.” She continued, “Sometimes it doesn’t matter if they’re tall, short, older, younger, it just doesn’t matter! It’s the essence.” Thank god Thomas took that risk because I truly can’t imagine anyone else playing Jesse.
Thomas praised Breaking Bad for the fact that the show didn’t cast just famous actors; it gave new actors a chance to shine, a topic you can tell she’s very proud of when you speak with her. “I think people really fell into the world of Breaking Bad because it was so authentic. There were no giant stars coming in and out of there.” She continued, “Vince created this world, and we were able to help facilitate that. It was totally believable. We were all in that world with them.”
Thomas spoke about changes the world of casting has undergone in a post-COVID world. In a time where self-taping is becoming the norm, Thomas highlighted the advantages of casting in audition rooms versus online. “You learn about an actor over a period of time. You audition them over and over, and that gives you the ability to understand the depth of their talent, but also how they take a note, a direction, and who they are as a person.” She continued, “It gives you the opportunity to then champion for them because when someone comes in to audition for a job, and the producers aren’t seeing it, I can show them four other auditions to say, ‘It’s in there. I know the essence of them and who they are as a person. They haven’t had the opportunity to do a really vulnerable character because they’ve only been known for this, but I’ve known them as a person over time, and that’s who they are. Be the first one.’ That’s the excitement of casting, and that’s why we do it, to me. The art of it.”
In its final season, Breaking Bad’s casting team was nominated at the Emmy’s. While they didn’t win, Thomas highlighted where she finds her pride in casting and the moments that fill her heart with joy. “We hang our hat on the pride and the joy of being able to work with really great talent.” Thomas had a hand in bringing so many talented actors to the screen, and it’s because of her eye and compassion for talent that we have beloved shows like Breaking Bad. Next time you watch a show filled with actors you love, remember there was someone in the audition room, like Sherry Thomas, who gave them their start.
