(CNN) — Giancarlo Esposito has had quite a year.
The “Breaking Bad” actor, who has been in the biz for almost five decades, received his first Screen Actors Guild nomination on Wednesday.
Esposito’s infamous role as villain Gus Fring is one reason the AMC series was nominated for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.
“Every time an actor does something different and pulls it off, people see him in a different way,” Esposito told CNN. “I’m honored to be one of those actors. … For me to be rediscovered is an amazing thing.”
The actor, whose character was dramatically killed off in season 4, said the role helped reignite his passion for the craft.
“I get goosebumps when I’m doing, and connecting, with the work and the writing.”
And there’s a chance those goosebumps aren’t going away.
Esposito said it’s likely that Gus will be back for season 5, in some way or another.
“Every time I die a character death, a little piece of me dies,” he said. “Sometimes it takes time to wash a character out of you, and it can be haunting.”
Though Esposito rarely watches his characters die on TV, he made sure to watch Gus’ journey come to an end. “I had to really see that darkness leave my spirit.”
But from the looks of it, Esposito’s journey is just beginning … again.
Esposito is currently filming ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” in Vancouver. He plays the Magic Mirror/reporter in the fairytale drama.
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