Quotes

[on filming Breaking Bad (2008) in Albuquerque] I actually hated it during the pilot. I loved working, obviously. But I would just go to work and then go back to the hotel and I couldn't find much to do. But when we started shooting the series I fell in love with the city. I'm from Boise, Idaho and it reminds me of a bigger version of that place. It's just nice to get away from the hustle of Los Angeles and the skies are endless out there. It's like a beautiful painting every day.

There've been some big studio films that have come my way that I just didn't think were the right direction for me to go in. I really believe that if you want some sort of longevity in this business, it's all about picking the right roles. Finally, this is the first time in my career I'm able to work [based on] the roles, and not to survive, so I'm just trying to be picky. I just want the right project. I'd rather not work than work on something that I'm not so unbelievably excited about. Maybe that's the wrong choice, but I don't really care, to be honest. I just want to do something, even if it's just a small little indie, that really makes me excited, that's very story-driven, character-driven and doesn't need those big explosions or car chases. (2010 - On his career)

The Last House on the Left (2009). I originally passed on it because I was like, "Why are they remaking that movie?! I hadn't even read the script but then, out of the blue, the casting director called me and then the producer, whom I'd never met, called me on my cell and said, "You just need to watch this director's last film, Hardcore (2004)". They sent it over to me and I watched it that night. Ten minutes into it, I completely saw a whole new vision of what I thought "Last House" could be with this director's vision in mind. And his film is brilliant and he's a brilliant director, so I'm every happy that I ultimately made that decision. I'm so, so proud of that film. It's a very artistic, fun, crazy, dark film [on taking the role in The Last House on the Left (2009)].

This business can be very dangerous to young kids coming out here with the dream. Fame changes people. How can it not? It's almost impossible not to. But I'm thirty years old and have a grasp of who I am, but when you're seventeen you think you know everything, but you truly are an infant, still very much learning. [2010 quote on fame]

Thank you, Hollywood, for allowing me to be part of your group.

I'm trying to have some longevity in this business. If that means not working for a while and just picking the right job, so be it.

I have 14 nieces and nephews.

I saw a lot of people have success handed to them that then exploited it. They didn't protect it or cherish it.

I need to listen to chill music when I'm driving. It prevents road rage.

I've grown so much, not just as an actor, but as a human being.

I'm obsessed with concerts.

I'm not a leading man.

I'm just in love with Burberry. Always have been, always will be.

I'm a character actor.

I think that for some people faith is good - they have something to draw to.

I mean, I've never really had much security, to be honest.

I love playing odd roles.

I just don't like to ask for things.

I grew up all over Idaho - I was born in Emmett, a very small town.

I think by eighth grade I knew I wanted to be an actor. I'd done church plays and stuff, but my first actual acting class was in eighth grade. I was obsessed with it.

Yeah, I left Idaho at 17. You know, I graduated high school a year early and just, you know, the typical story, packed up my car and moved out.

When I first started, I just wanted to work. I wouldn't necessarily do anything, but I'd pretty much almost do anything at the very beginning.

The first part of my career, how I was paying the bills was commercials. I was just doing tons of commercials.

[on his experience with crystal meth, beyond Breaking Bad (2008)] I've been making it for the past six years and I have no idea what it is.

[when asked if he had ever tried quitting a bad habit]I used to smoke, but I stopped years ago. It was hard because my character, Jesse, would smoke a lot on Breaking Bad. I asked them if they could write that out of the script, but then there was the whole ricin cigarette thing - I had to be smoking.

[on whether or not he is a "juice guy"]I've tried to do a cleanse only once in my life. It was a three-day juice cleanse, and right around 3 o'clock the first afternoon is when I gave up on it. Kung Pao Bistro that night. But for that half day, it really felt like I was accomplishing something.