Bryan Cranston thought James Corden was the waiter when they first met

James Corden's first meeting with Bryan Cranston appeared to be very awkward, as the Breaking Bad actor had no clue who he was.

Before Corden became a household name in the US, he was working in the UK as an actor, starring in stage performances like the History Boys before working his way into TV.

Alongside Ruth Jones, he penned the beloved sitcom Gavin and Stacey which to this day has the entire country wondering what happened on the fishing trip, and if Smithy said yes to Nessa's proposal.

Corden then jetted off across the pond and became the host of The Late Late Show, but his arrival in the US didn't mean everyone knew who he was just yet...

Before his US success, Corden found himself in Los Angeles with his wife, Julia Carey, binge-watching the Emmy award-winning Breaking Bad and decided to grab lunch at a local restaurant.

Little did he know that his idol, Cranston, would walk in, turning a casual lunch into a memorable, albeit awkward, experience. Corden, eager to seize the opportunity, approached Cranston to express his admiration.

In a recent appearance on Today with Hoda and Jenna, Corden shared: "My story is very emotional for me right now. For my story is the first time I ever met Bryan Cranston, which was a huge moment in my life."

Describing the encounter, he continued: "I go for lunch, and who walks in the restaurant but Bryan Cranston. To this day, I have never been as starstruck as I was in that moment."

However, things took an unexpected turn when Cranston, mistaking Corden for a waiter, made a simple request: "Could I have some more coffee, please?"

Corden, undeterred, took the chance to express his admiration, saying: "Bryan, you don’t know me, I’m an actor in the United Kingdom, and I was watching the show this morning. Your performance is incredible."

Cranston simply replied: "Thank you, can I get a Diet Coke with no ice?"

While the moment may have been awkward for Corden at the time, he and Cranston now share a laugh about it.

Corden stepped down from his talk show in 2023, and he signed off with a heartbreaking plea to the citizens of the US.

"I’ve struggled to find the words to sum up what these past eight years have meant to me," Corden started, already seemingly emotional.

"We started with Obama then Trump then a global pandemic. I’ve watched America change a lot over these past few years, I’ve watched divisions grow, and I felt a sense of negativity," he continued.

"I guess all I really want to stay is: I implore you to remember what America signifies to the rest of the world. My entire life, it’s always been a place of optimism and joy. Sure, it has flaws."

"Show me a country that doesn’t... every single one of us is a work of progress," he said before stating: "Just because someone disagrees with you, it doesn’t make them bad or evil. There are so many people who are trying to stoke those differences.

"We have to try to do the best we can to look for the light, look for the joy. It’s out there. That’s all this show has ever been about," he added. "Thank you for letting me do this. Thank you for letting me into your home every night."

Featured image credit: Frazer Harrison/BAFTA LA/Getty