Just because Aaron Paul is dating 90210 actress Jessica Lowndes does not mean he’s going to be appearing on the CW prime-time soap.

“I think there were pictures of me on set,” Paul tells me about rumors he’d be making an onscreen visit to Beverly Hills.

Besides, Paul has enough work on his plate right now. Not only does he play Scott on Big Love, but he’s also a first-time Emmy nominee this year for his work as crystal meth dealer Jesse Pinkman on AMC’s Breaking Bad.

To say his work on Breaking Bad is intense would be an understatement…

Jesse went to rehab last season after he and his girlfriend, Jane (Krysten Ritter), started using heroin. “We had someone there who was a user for 12 solid years and he’s been clean now for 15,” Paul said. “It was crazy because when he was showing us how to do it, his hands started shaking and it kind of freaked him out a little bit.”

For the second year in a row, Paul’s bringing his mom to the Emmys. “She was just beaming last year,” said Paul, who turns 30 on Thursday. “We were at the Governors Ball and Glenn Close…was leaning over the railing and dropping pieces of chocolate into our champagne glasses. We look and my mother cannot believe what she’s seeing. She was like, ‘Oh, my God. Is this really happening?’”

Also coming along for the big night this time around will be Paul’s dad, brother, and yes, Ms. Lowndes.

Paul admits he’s nervous that all his success could lead to an even bigger spotlight on his personal life. In fact, the paparazzi recently snapped pics of him and Lowndes at the Grove mall in L.A. “We were walking out of [the movie theater] and it was so strange,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, no!’ They knew we were inside.”

Aaron Paul, star of AMC’s Albuquerque-set series Breaking Bad, adds a fiery chemistry to the show along with Bryan Cranston, who took Best Actor Emmy honors last year.

For those unfamiliar with the series, Bryan Cranston plays a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher, Walter White, while Aaron Paul portrays Jesse Pinkman, the dim-witted former student that he enlists to help manufacture and distribute meth.

Paul recently sat down with E! Online and shared some thoughts and insight on the show’s current season. Below are some excerpts from the talented actor’s interview …

Q: How incredible is Bryan Cranston?
A: If I were to be able to act against anyone on this planet, it would be him. He is so genius at what he does. But him as a human being is truly inspiring to me. He is just the nicest man.

Q: How would you characterize Jesse and Walt’s relationship?
A: At the beginning, their relationship was definitely quite different than it is now. Jesse is frustrated with Mr. White, he doesn’t want to be involved with him, and they are constantly butting heads. I think they are going to keep that – that Odd Couple relationship, which I think personally works for the show. But Jesse considers Mr. White a true artist, and he’s impressed by him. And he definitely wants to learn. It’s a little tough, at times, for Jesse, but he wants to learn. I think toward the end of season two you realize [Walt] is somewhat of a father figure for Jesse. Finally, now, Jesse really has so much respect for Walt.

Q: How do you make the show’s seamless transition between intense drama and comedy seem so effortless?
A: Honestly, I give all the credit to Vince and Bryan. Vince is a genius – a mad genius. When I read the pilot, I went in thinking it was an hour drama – it didn’t seem like a comedy at all. And it’s not a comedy, it’s definitely a drama, but it’s very humorous at times, and I found myself laughing while I was reading the script. But I’m like, Should I be laughing? Dean [Norris], who plays Hank, was in the waiting room with Betsy [Brandt], who plays Marie, when they were auditioning for it. And they started talking and were like, “Is this supposed to be funny? Because it’s hilarious. But it’s so dark.” And they were like, “I don’t know!” Dean said, “I’m just gonna go in there and play it funny. I’m just gonna play it funny.” He is brilliant at that.

Q: Is Walt going to take to the grave the fact that he’s responsible for Jesse’s love’s demis?
A: I can’t imagine – who knows, maybe the guilt’s gonna get to him – but I can’t imagine he’ll ever confess to that. If he did, there’s no way that, personally, I could ever be around him anymore.

Q: But Jesse was supposed to die by the end of the first season?
A: I’m so happy they didn’t kill me – let that be known. When we were shooting the sixth episode, and we only had one more episode to go [in the writers' strike shortened season]. I hadn’t read the final script when Vince told me, “You know, originally, we were going to kill your character off.” [So I wondered,] “Why are telling me this right now?” I was slowly panicking inside, trying to hold my composure. I was definitely shaking, and my spine slowly started to actually hurt. [Even now] they are constantly messing with me – Karen Moore, one of the producers, once asked me how tall I am, because “We’re just getting measurements for your casket” – but Vince has let me know I will be sticking around. That is very good news – for Jesse and me.

Q: What else can you tell us about Season Three?
A: I can tell you two things: Jesse is not going to die, and Jesse and Walt are going to be roommates.