‘Westworld’ star Aaron Paul says technology is killing our joy

Aaron Paul rose to fame for his Emmy-winning role as Jesse Pinkman, crystal meth dealer in “Breaking Bad” (2008-2013). It’s a role so iconic that Paul, 40, says fans still approach him about it on a daily basis over half a decade since it’s been off the air.

Now he’s joining the third season of HBO’s sci-fi epic “Westworld,” which imagines a near-future in which wealthy people vacation in luxury theme parks filled with human-looking robots. Since the parks have historical settings such as the Wild West, the show hasn’t revealed what the “real” world outside of them looks like. Until now.

Season 3, which picks up where Season 2 left off — rogue robot Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) leaves the park to conquer the human world — introduces the audience to the outside world via new character Caleb (Paul), a down-on-his-luck Army vet turned construction worker.

Paul tells The Post about joining “Westworld,” his “Breaking Bad” tattoo and more.

Westworld is a complicated show. Did you need a tutorial when you joined it, or were you familiar with it already?

I was a crazy fan of the show; such a massive fan of [creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy]. I was really excited to get a peek behind the velvet curtains per se and see what they had in store. They said that Caleb would be the character that introduces the audience to the outside world of “Westworld.” This season really takes the audience outside of the park and shows everyone the society that we are all living in.

What can you tell me about Caleb?

Caleb is a very complex character. He’s a construction worker, a blue-collar guy just trying to survive in this chaotic world. I just love the challenges that he faces. His introduction to Dolores and that world was very exciting for me. I am such a huge fan of Evan [Rachel Wood]. I absolutely adore her, and to be able to work alongside someone so fun and so professional is obviously a dream come true. That is not always the case. I’m constantly inspired by her.

“Westworld” is largely about our relationship with technology. Did it impact how you think about that at all?

I’ve always felt that way about technology — it’s kind of a blessing and a curse. It informs us but also I think it’s taking away a lot of the joys of living. I pride myself on not owning a computer. I am rarely around my phone. I have thousands of unread emails. I have my phone down and my head up. That’s kind of how I live my life. Someone said this quote to me, like, “Birds don’t carry anything; because of that, they’re able to fly.” I love that. We don’t need much. I think people forget how beautiful this planet is. They get distracted by the things in their hands and in their pockets.

You recently did the movie “El Camino,” following Jesse after the events of “Breaking Bad.” Do you think there could be more Jesse in your future?

I think that was it. Who knows, there’s still one more season of “Better Call Saul.” I’m not sure how that would work out . . . I don’t know if their worlds will collide or if Jesse has more story to tell. I’m not sure. I think it was a perfect ending even before “El Camino,” but then when [creator Vince Gilligan] presented me with this script, I thought, “Oh, yeah, this makes sense, this is perfect.” It was a great send-off. So I think it’s the end. But I’ve also said that before. We’ll see.

Do fans still approach you about it all the time?

It definitely does happen every day, which is great. Still to this day people are still being introduced to the show — whether it’s a younger generation or people that are finally just getting around to watching it. I hear people talking about “Breaking Bad” constantly and then they finally say to themselves, “Well, let me just give it a shot,” and then they get hooked. It’s nice to see, it’s nice to be a part of something that impactful.

You have a “Breaking Bad” tattoo, right?

I do, yeah — on my right arm underneath my bicep. That was sort of an idea that was birthed on the final day of shooting. None of us really wanted to say goodbye. We were such a family, and a beautiful one at that. We came up with the idea of all getting matching tattoos at the end of the workday. And so one of our crew members who was a brilliant tattoo artist set up shop . . . I think in total that night and the following week there was about 40-plus crew members that all got matching tattoos. It was either “No half measures” or it was the “Breaking Bad” symbol, the “BrBa” symbol. Both Bryan [Cranston] and I got tattoos on the final day.

If you got one for “Westworld,” what would it be of?

God, I have no idea — maybe a big, beautiful portrait of [creators] Jonah and Lisa on my back [laughs].

“Westworld” Season 3 premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday on HBO