GQ: Why did Marie jump so quickly to the conclusion that Walt needs to die?

Brandt: She’s really angry. That said, I think if she saw him in danger, she would help him. I think that’s how she would react. But she knows that he put Hank’s life in jeopardy, and that is just a deal breaker for her. And also, my sister’s in danger, and the kids had to come live with us because nobody’s safe in your house? He fucked up. And it wasn’t by accident. It wasn’t that Walt didn’t have a choice in this. I feel like, as a viewer, I rooted for Walt much longer than I really should have. But then once it got to be where it was just like, no regard for anybody else, then I got mad at him.****

GQ: Marie also tried to get Holly of the house a few episodes ago, and had she done that, Walt wouldn’t have been able to take her.

Brandt: I think he didn’t want to go down alone; that’s such a fear. And I feel like his family broke down with that line where he’s like, "WE’RE A FAMILY!" [Laughs] It’s like, oh my god.

GQ: Do you think Marie intuited at all what had happened to Hank, prior to that devastating moment when Walt called the house?

Brandt: She has so much faith in him. She just believes he’s coming home. It’s like, did you read The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion? She talks about when her husband died, and how she thought, "Wait. They don’t know on the other coast yet, so he’s still alive there." Just the tricks you play when you just really can’t accept that this person is gone. And I feel that with Marie and Hank. I think she just really can’t accept it. For her, god, she would really need to see that body. He’s her rock of Gibraltar. He makes it through everything. I feel like he’s that cop who always had a lot of close calls, and he’s the tough guy they sent out to be in the worst situations, and he always comes back a hero. And this time, it was so close. Watching it, it was like, "God, if he just would have left earlier!"****

GQ: Marie and Skyler have been pitted against each other this season, but now they’ve both lost their husbands. Does this put them back on the same side?

**Brandt: **It felt to me like, Marie’s at their house, so whether she would admit it or not, she’s looking to her sister to hold her up. But also, everything’s changed now. When we shot that scene where Marie finds out [about Walt] and talks to Skyler and starts putting everything together, I kept saying to Anna, "It’s just so sad." I always loved that relationship between the sisters. And that’s gone. That will never be the same. If Marie could forgive her, or even if Marie could forget about it, it will never be the same. It’s the fallout from what Walt has done. It’s like an earthquake that just keeps rumbling further and further and further.

GQ: So you’re on a comedy now. How has your life changed now that you’re telling jokes instead of doing really tense dramatic scenes?

Brandt: Honestly, physically, it feels a little easier. It just really takes a toll on you, the drama. And I’ve done intense guest stars and recurring roles, things like that. But the way Bryan and Aaron have done this for years, I really was like, "God, I don’t know." I think you really just need that hiatus. Thank god_ Breaking Bad_ was just 13 episodes instead of 22 or something like that_. [Laughs]_ But I can tell you, we had a lot of fun at _Breaking Bad. _You have to. If I can keep it light in between scenes, then that helps me dig down further than if I try and stay at that constant place all day. That’s just me. Every actor’s got their thing. But that’s what I do. And it was a much more fun set to be on than you would think. Also, Bryan is hilarious.