The thing that makes Gus Fring such an intimidating presence on “Breaking Bad” is his unnerving sense of calm. He can certainly tap into extreme levels of rage and aggression, but for the most part, he always gives off the impression that he’s relaxed and collected. That delicate balance isn’t an easy one for an actor to strike, but for someone with the skill of Giancarlo Esposito, perfecting that portrayal became second nature in due time. All it took was crafting the right strategy for finding Fring’s demeanor.
“The thing that does it for me is to sit in silence and to be quiet. In the beginning, my yoga practice pulled me in because it allowed my mind to still and not think about anything but a one-pointed thought,” Esposito told Vulture of his pre-filming ritual to slip into the Gus Fring character. He goes on to explain that in his mind, Fring is a man who has very much been formed by the trauma and otherwise dangerous situations he found himself in prior to the events of “Breaking Bad.” Thus, he knows how to operate under pressure and doesn’t trust a soul.
Gus Fring is arguably one of the greatest television villains of all time and, coupled with excellent writing, Giancarlo Esposito’s performances made it possible for him to reach that status.