‘I definitely had a nihilistic attitude’: Bradley Cooper reveals drug and alcohol addiction nearly killed him

Bradley Cooper had previously said that he found comfort in substances after he severed his Achilles tendon and “got fired/quit” the series ‘Alias’ back in 2003

Published on: Aug 19, 2023, 11:04:27 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Bradley Cooper has said that he thought his battle with drugs and alcohol would kill him. The 48-year-old actor opened up about the lows of his life in a recent episode of the National Geographic series ‘Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge.’

Bradley Cooper arrives for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2022, in New York (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (AFP)

“You definitely had some wild years?” survivalist Grylls, 49, asked Bradley. “In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah, but nothing to do with fame,” Bradley replied. “But I was lucky. I got sober at 29 years old, and I’ve been sober for 19 years. Very lucky.”

Bradley had previously said that he found comfort in substances after he severed his Achilles tendon and “got fired/quit” the series ‘Alias’ back in 2003. He has opened up about his cocaine and alcohol addiction in the past.

‘I definitely had a nihilistic attitude towards life’

Bradley said his journey towards recovery began after his then-roommate and actor Will Arnett sat him down and spoke with him in 2004. However, after his father died of lung cancer in 2011, Bradley’s struggle with addiction began again. “I definitely had a nihilistic attitude towards life after, just like I thought ‘I’m going to die,'” he recalled. “I don’t know, it wasn’t great for a little bit until I thought I have to embrace who I actually am and try to find a peace with that, and then it sort of evened out.”

Bradley eventually survived the storm and went on to direct ‘A Star Is Born,’ where he appeared opposite Lady Gaga. He played addict Jackson Maine.

“It made it easier to be able to really enter in there,” Bradley said of his Oscar-nominated performance in the 2018 film. “And thank goodness I was at a place in my life where I was at ease with all of that so I could really let myself go.”

He added, “I’ve been very lucky with the roles I’ve had to play. It’s been a real blessing. I hope I get to keep doing it.” Bradley is set to appear in the Netflix film ‘Maestro,’ a Leonard Bernstein biopic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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