Oscar Actors: Cooper, Bradley–Past Addiction ‘Made It Easier’ to Play ‘Star Is Born’ Characte

Past Addiction ‘Made It Easier’ to Play ‘Star Is Born’ Character

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Bradley Cooper attends the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 World Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 27, 2023. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Getty Images for Disney

Bradley Coopoer recently went deep into the icy canyons of the Wyoming Basin, where he opened up about his sobriety with Bear Grylls.

On a Season 2 episode of National Geographic’s “Running Wild With Bear Grylls,” the British adventurer asked Cooper about his most meaningful roles.

The Hangover was pretty career changing,” Cooper said. “I was 36 when that happened, so I was already in the game for 10 years just banging around, so I didn’t get lost in fame.”

“But you definitely had some wild years,” Grylls said, to which Cooper responded: “In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah. But that had nothing to do with fame, though.”

“I was lucky,” Cooper continued. “I got sober at 29 years old, and I’ve been sober for 19 years. I’ve been very lucky.”

“It made it easier to be able to really enter in there,” he said of the musical drama. “And thank goodness I was at a place in my life where I was at ease with all of that, so I could really let myself go.”

In “A Star Is Born,” an adaptation of the 1937 romance and its 1954 and 1976 remakes, Cooper played rock star struggling with addiction.

“I’ve been very lucky with the roles I’ve had to play,” Cooper said. “It’s been a real blessing. I hope I get to keep doing it.”

A Star Is Born earned 8 Oscar nominations, winning one Academy Award for Cooper and Gaga’s “Shallow” in the best original song category.

Cooper will next be seen in the Leonard Bernstein biographical romance “Maestro,” in which he plays the legendary late conductor. “Maestro,” which Cooper also directed, will premiere at the 80th Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2 and will be the spotlight gala at New York Film Festival on Oct. 2.

The movie will then have a limited theatrical window starting Nov. 22 before hitting Netflix on Dec. 20.

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