In January 2008, AMC premiered a new series about a chemistry teacher who, after a cancer diagnosis, decides to embark on a new career making meth to support his family. The series, of course, was "Breaking Bad," and creator Vince Gilligan brought the idea to fruition over five seasons.

In addition to Gilligan's genius, the success of the series also came from its cast of actors who, despite building substantial back catalogs, hadn't necessarily found massive mainstream success. One of those actors was Betsy Brandt, who played Marie Schrader, Walter White's sister-in-law. Before signing on to "Breaking Bad," she'd never been a series regular. She'd been making the prime-time rounds, guest-starring on shows like "NCIS," "ER," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and "Boston Legal," but none o

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