Bradley Cooper, a nine-time Academy Award nominee, recently shared a revealing anecdote about the challenges he faces within Hollywood despite his Oscar nominations.
While speaking on the 'SmartLess' podcast with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes, Cooper recounted an awkward encounter at an Oscar party organized by the CAA agency four years ago during the 'A Star is Born' days, where he received three nominations, including Best Picture.
Cooper disclosed that, despite the accolades, he still struggles to be taken seriously in Hollywood. He recalled an unsettling moment at the party when he overheard a director questioning the significance of nominations.
The director, unaware of Cooper's presence, remarked, "What's the point? What world do we live in where you have seven nominations and she only has three?" Cooper, taken aback, couldn't forget the encounter and expressed his frustration, saying, "Bro, why are you such an idiot? I would never forget that. F-ck you."
This wasn't the first time Cooper felt like an outsider in Hollywood. In 2011, after his first nomination for 'Silver Linings Playbook,' he found himself competing against industry heavyweights. A "heroic female actress" approached him, offering a condescending seal of approval, saying, "I saw your movie. 'You deserve the nomination.'" Cooper, perplexed, reflected on the bizarre encounter, stating, "Can you imagine saying that to someone? You have to be messed up to do that."
Now, a decade later, Cooper's career is at its peak. He is currently directing 'Maestro,' a Leonard Bernstein biopic, where he serves as co-writer, producer, and star alongside Carey Mulligan, Maya Hawke, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Silverman, Scott Ellis, and Matt Bomer.
Despite the challenges, Cooper expressed gratitude for the four-and-a-half-year journey in developing 'Maestro,' emphasizing its themes of marriage, family, and the transformative power of music, embodied by the iconic figures Leonard Bernstein and Gustav Mahler.
