The film allowed him to establish a heartfelt personal connection with the character beyond his brutal nature.
Raymond Cruz, known for his role as Tuco Salamanca in “Breaking Bad,” delved deeper into the character in the prequel series “Better Call Saul,” revealing a more human side beyond his reputation for extreme violence. While Tuco’s ruthless nature was evident in “Breaking Bad,” his character development in “Better Call Saul” showcased a multi-dimensional persona.
In a recent interview with Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Cruz expressed his appreciation for the character’s development and the opportunity to explore Tuco’s progression in the show, saying, “The fact that you got to really get to know Tuco through Better Call Saul where you see his progression and where he ends up, the amazing writing of the series on the development of the character and how he goes down this road.”
“Which you actually got a more heartfelt personal connection with him and seeing on how he treats his family and how he connects with his relatives and that there’s a lot more to him than just this uber-violent character.”
He also emphasized the exceptional writing of the series, particularly the work of creator Vince Gilligan, which allowed for a more heartfelt and personal connection to Tuco. Cruz credits the writing for providing the foundation for his performance, enabling him to bring the character to life.
“As an actor, when you have the freedom to do that, to work on it and to improvise, it’s all within the context of the character in the writing,” the actor continued. “We did that on the show. Because what you have on the page written and then what you see on screen, you got to make it walk and talk and breathe and feel.”
Cruz claimed that giving Tuco intelligence was essential to conveying Tuco’s complexity. He thinks that without it, the representation would be unconvincing. As an actor, he built the character from a strong foundation and added layers, naturally bringing out Tuco’s distinctive gestures and actions. Cruz then expressed gratitude for the chance and noted that such nuanced acting would not be possible without the assistance of outstanding literature.
He added: “That’s a tremendous gift from Vince Gilligan and the amazing writing. And then you, as an actor, you have to translate this to performance. So, it has to be there in order for it to work. So just the fact that you’re given the opportunity.”
The reunion of Cruz and his Breaking Bad co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul for PopCorner’s Super Bowl advertisement was also discussed. The advertisement seeks to revisit “Breaking Bad” in a novel setting by putting Walter White, Tuco, and Jesse Pinkman in the midst of a brand-new business endeavor involving the development and marketing of a new product. He gave away the comedy of the ad and expressed excitement at returning to the world of “Breaking Bad,” which still has a passionate following.
Filming the Super Bowl spot brought a sense of nostalgia and familiarity for Cruz as if they had never left the world of “Breaking Bad.” He mentioned it by saying, “It was as if we had never left. It was a bit surreal to be able to step back into this world and have it be so familiar after such a long time. Breaking Bad has such a huge fan base.”
“And there’s new generations of people just constantly discovering the show, and they come up to you, and they talk about how much they love the show, that it’s one of the best shows ever. So for PopCorners to give us this platform, it’s their first-ever Super Bowl commercial to be able to resurrect the Breaking Bad universe, to be able to bring these iconic characters back together is insane.”
Cruz charmed audiences with his depiction of Tuco Salamanca in “Breaking Bad,” and his continued development of the character in “Better Call Saul” allowed viewers to better grasp Tuco’s complexities outside of his violent impulses. Viewers bonded more closely with the character because of the excellent writing and Cruz’s superb acting. Fans excitedly anticipate the return of their favorite characters from “Breaking Bad” in a fresh and amusing setting as anticipation for the Super Bowl commercial reunion grows.
