S Poddar
Bradley Cooper is probably one of the few actors in recent times who have successfully broken into directing. His journey as a director has been really impressive, and his first directorial effort, 2018’s A Star Is Born, was a critical and commercial success which earned him nominations for Best Picture and Best Actor in the Academy Awards. Then, in 2023, Cooper released Maestro, a biographical film about the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, in which he not only directed but also portrayed the famed musician. Once again, the film earned a Best Picture nomination, making Cooper’s directorial career a remarkable success right from the start.
Despite working with many of the industry’s top-tier names, Cooper never shied away from sharing actors he admired and wanted to collaborate with. In 2011, when he hadn’t even considered stepping behind the camera, Cooper was asked to name his dream co-stars. “Daniel Day-Lewis for sure!” he said, along with other legendary names like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, and Tom Hardy. “I think Michael Fassbender’s incredible and Carey Mulligan is great, there’s a lot of young actors that are really good and who I’d love to work with,” Cooper continued. Even at that early stage, it was clear that Cooper had a great respect for talent and was eager to work with the best in the business.
It’s interesting to note that Carey Mulligan, who was mentioned in that 2011 interview, would later join him in Maestro. Mulligan played Felicia Montealegre, the wife of Leonard Bernstein, a role that required her to navigate a complex mix of emotions, from compassion to deep frustration. Mulligan’s portrayal, particularly as her character faced the heartbreaking reality of her terminal illness, was universally praised. In fact, her performance is one of the standout features of the film, proving Cooper’s early instincts about her talents were spot on. At the time of that interview, Mulligan was only 26 years old, fresh off an Oscar nomination for An Education. It’s clear Cooper’s recognition of her potential was incredibly prescient.
Looking at the other names on Cooper’s 2011 wishlist, it’s fascinating to see how his career has unfolded. He did, in fact, get to share the screen with Cate Blanchett in Nightmare Alley (2021), directed by Guillermo del Toro. While they do not appear that often together, their union is a notable one. Cooper also worked behind the scenes on Joker, co-producing the film, which starred Joaquin Phoenix. Cooper never had the opportunity to work with late Philip Seymour Hoffman, but he did find himself in a project that is related to him. In Licorice Pizza (2021), for example, Cooper was paired by director Paul Thomas Anderson with Hoffman’s son, who is also simply named Cooper. About the other film actors he named, Cooper hasn’t collaborated yet with Tom Hardy or Michael Fassbender.
Still, it seems he has just starting his directorial career and has plenty of shots with his dream co-stars. Another of Cooper’s upcoming projects, Is This Thing On?, in which he will co-star with writer Will Arnett and Emily Blunt, may become another one of these names on his long list. Very little is said of the film, yet it is probable to be another success both critically and creatively speaking given Cooper’s history.
With only two films under his belt as a director, Bradley Cooper has emerged as a force in Hollywood with a keen eye for talent who knows how to direct it and create powerful, memorable performances. As his career continues to evolve, it’s safe to say that his list of collaborators only grows, while many of the actors he admires will surely want to work with him as well. So far, with early success and the promise of what may follow in the potential future projects, Cooper’s journey in both acting and directing would appear to be just getting started.
