Addiction is a battle that many people face, even those in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. One such person is Bradley Cooper, who considers himself “very lucky” to be alive today after years of struggling with addiction. In a recent episode of “Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” the Oscar-nominated actor opened up about his past struggles with alcohol and drugs.
Cooper revealed that even before his breakthrough role in “The Hangover,” he had been dealing with addiction for a decade. However, he managed to navigate the pitfalls of fame and didn’t let it consume him. “I didn’t get lost in fame,” he shared. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have his fair share of wild years before achieving celebrity status.
“In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah, I had some wild years,” Cooper admitted. “But that had nothing to do with fame, though.” Thankfully, at the age of 29, he made the life-changing decision to get sober. Now, 19 years later, he continues to lead a sober lifestyle.
In a candid conversation on the “Smartless” podcast, Cooper reflected on hitting “rock bottom.” It was a pivotal moment when his friend Will Arnett visited his place and noticed that Cooper had neglected to let his dogs out. “That was the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol,” Cooper revealed. “It changed my entire life.”
Cooper’s journey wasn’t an easy one. He confessed to having “zero self-esteem” and feeling completely lost, especially after leaving the TV show “Alias.” But his past as an addict ultimately shaped his portrayal of Jackson Maine in the critically acclaimed film “A Star is Born” in 2018.
“It made it easier to really enter in there,” Cooper explained. “And thank goodness I was at a place in my life where I was at ease with all that. So I could really let myself go.”
