In 1998, Bryan Cranston kept falling asleep researching his next role. It won an Emmy for ‘Outstanding Miniseries’

Bryan Cranston said he fell asleep more than once while researching astronaut Buzz Aldrin for the 1998 HBO miniseries *From the Earth to the Moon*. Preparing to portray a real person, he felt the responsibility of getting the character right, and the experience highlighted how much actors rely on well-written scripts to develop their roles.

The 12-part series, produced by Ron Howard and Tom Hanks, traced the United States’ Apollo space programme. It received 17 Emmy nominations and won three, including Outstanding Miniseries. Cranston later said that research demands vary by role, and that strong writing gives actors the material they need to build a character.