Bradley Cooper is a man who loves making movies. The publicity aspect of Hollywood, however, is a different story. The actor turned filmmaker behind A Star Is Born has made it clear that he will discuss his remake, but on his own terms—without doling out adorable anecdotes about his personal life for the tabloid-reading publics entertainment. Cooper is a more private person who understands that, in promoting his film, he is there to do just that. So when the actor surprisingly veered off-topic during a recent interview for Varietys Playback podcast in order to discuss a slightly more personal topic—his affection for Greta Gerwigs feature-film directorial debut, Lady Bird—it was both surprising and utterly charming.
During the opening minutes of the conversation, Kris Tapley tells Cooper about a few of his favorite previous interviews. When Tapley mentions Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan, Cooper audibly lights up.
“I love that movie,” Cooper exclaims of Lady Bird, which was nominated for five Oscars this winter. “I voted for that movie. I love that movie . . . thats like a perfect film.”
Cooper continues, gushing, “It is a perfect movie. Every frame of that film, every character, every word. Its such a beautiful construction. [Greta] crushed that. I had the screenplay; it was incredible.” As if he is getting choked up just thinking about the film, Cooper cant help but exclaim: “Ooph!”
Cooper goes on to reveal a few more details about A Star Is Born, including the fact that he considered making his character, Jackson, a different kind of musician. Before deciding how Cooper would speak—in Sam Elliotts gravely tenor—the filmmaker contemplated making the character “almost more like Coldplay-ish. . . . then maybe it was more grunge. . . . then we went more country.” (Take a moment, please, to consider Jackson Maine performing at a grand piano.)
The filmmaker says that he and co-star Lady Gaga took two months before production began to work on their characters. And he made his cast a guarantee: “I promise you that there will not be one frame of the film up on-screen that I dont believe.” Cooper explains that he felt so strongly about A Star Is Born that he genuinely didnt know if he would find another story that he felt he “need[ed] to tell” in the same way. Fortunately, the filmmaker has discovered a new project he wants to devote himself to in the same meticulous manner. Without detailing what it is exactly, Cooper explains, “I have found something that will probably be another four years of my life. But I feel so lucky that I feel something that I feel so passionate about.”
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Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Julie MillerJulie Miller is a Senior Hollywood writer for Vanity Fairs website.
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