Empathy cannot be taught

Bryan Cranston, an Emmy and Tony-winning actor, writes that empathy cannot be taught but can be nurtured. It requires an innate sense that resides within a person from the start.

“I don't believe that empathy can be taught. It can be nurtured, but there has to be an innate sense that resides in a person.”

Essiedu possesses genuine empathy

Paapa Essiedu has that innate sense of empathy and compassion for people known and unknown to him. Cranston witnessed this quality firsthand while working with him.

“Paapa Essiedu has that innate sense of empathy, a compassion for people known and unknown to him.”

They worked together in London

Cranston played Essiedu's father in All My Sons in London. During the production, he witnessed Essiedu's genuine and intuitive outreach of interest in people's well-being.

Remarkable depth at a young age

Cranston was struck by how young Essiedu was to possess such depth of care and concern for others. This quality is usually reserved for those who develop insightfulness later in life.

“He was so young to possess that depth of care and concern for others, something usually reserved for those who develop an insightfulness later in life.”

Empathy fuels his talent

Essiedu's empathy has contributed greatly to his extraordinary talent as an actor and as a human being. Cranston describes him as one in a hundred.

“This quality in Paapa has contributed mightily to his extraordinary talent as an actor, and a human being. He really is one in a hundred!”