From addiction to A-lister
You probably wouldn't expect an A-list actor like Bradley Cooper would ever be down on his luck. Yet, he struggled with self-esteem and addiction during his early acting days. He started acting in 2001 and considered quitting and even suicide when his role in Alias decreased three years later. But, thanks to a conversation with the actor Will Arnett in 2004, Bradley realized he had a problem and worked to get sober.
His first significant movie role was in Wedding Crashers, which was released in 2005. After that, Cooper continued to act in minor roles or non-box office hits for the next few years. His big break was the role as Phil Wenneck in The Hangover in 2009; it became the all-time highest-grossing R-rated comedy. Since then, he has been in hits such as Silver Linings Playbook, Guardians of the Galaxy, and A Star is Born. In 2015, he became the 10th actor to receive an Oscar nomination for three straight years.
Quotes
And then for the second season, I got even more sidelined. I was like, 'Ugh.' And then, the next thing you know, I was like, 'I want to f***ing kill myself.
Bradley Cooper
But moving to Los Angeles for Alias, [I was] feeling like I was back in high school: I could not get into any clubs, no girls wanted to look at me. I was totally depressed. It wasn't really until The Hangover. I was 36 when I did The Hangover, so I got to go through all those things before fame even played into my existence on a daily level. So all that happened before any of that.
Bradley Cooper
At some point, you have to come to terms with The business just doesn't want you, you know what I mean?
Bradley Cooper
References
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Bradley Cooper Recalls Feeling ‘So Lost’ and ‘Addicted to Cocaine’ in His 20s: ‘I Was Totally Depressed’
The Golden Globe nominee, for his part, credited his friend for being “the reason” he decided to address his addiction. “I definitely made major breakthroughs at 29 to 33, 34, where at least I was able to stand in front of somebody and breathe and listen and talk,” he added, referring to the transition as the “path of deciding to change my life.”
US Magazine
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Bradley Cooper battled cocaine and alcohol addiction before Hangover fame: 'I was so lost'
Getting sober changed Bradley Cooper's life for the better, and it's all because of Will Arnett. While sitting down on the podcast Smartless, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Arnett, Cooper opened up about his struggles with addiction, self-esteem, and finding his way in Hollywood.
Entertainment Weekly
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Oscars: Bradley Cooper Becomes 10th Actor Ever To Score Three-Peat Nomination
He earned nods for best actor in Silver Linings Playbook in 2012 and best supporting actor in American Hustle in 2013, both directed by David O. Russell. He didn’t win for either film, but his performance as the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in Clint Eastwood‘s war drama has earned him significant awards buzz this year.
The Hollywood Reporter
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