Bradley Cooper has admitted that he struggled with a severe cocaine addiction in the early years of his career, and revealed that he was “lost” in substance abuse as a means of coping with low self-esteem after be degraded from a major role in television. Alias series.
Cooper, 47, spoke of his addictions to the Smartless podcast by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, explaining that being downgraded to a guest star in the third season of the show completely demoralized him and helped develop a “problem. with drugs and alcohol. ” . ‘
“He was so lost and addicted to cocaine, that was the other thing,” he said of the difficult time his career seemed adrift.
Fights: Bradley Cooper, 47, delved into his alcohol and cocaine addictions in a research episode of the Smartless podcast, presented by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, on Tuesday; seen in March in New York
His physical struggles also contributed to his condition.
“I cut my Achilles tendon just after I was fired,” he said, adding that he had a terrible self-esteem.
Bradley was originally part of the main cast with star Jennifer Garner in the first two seasons of Alias, from 2001 to 2003.
But then he saw his character reduced to special guest status, and only appeared in two additional episodes: once in 2003 during the third season, and then a last appearance in an episode of the fifth season in 2006.
While talking to his friends, Bradley noted that he was lucky that his struggles for addiction happened when he was relatively young and still developing his career as an actor.
Bad dayus: After being demoted to Alias in the third season, he was “so lost” in a cocaine addiction that he was aggravated by a severed Achilles tendon; seen with Jennifer Garner in Alias
End of season 2006.
“I had the benefit of having this happen when I was 29. I thought I got it when I got an ad from Wendy’s. … As for that, that’s when I did it. But I definitely didn’t feel moving to Los Angeles for Alias, feeling like I was back in high school – I couldn’t go to any club, no girl wanted to look at me, I was totally depressed.
A popular supporting role in Wedding Crashers and his starring role in The Hangover helped revive his career and put him on the road to the A-list.
‘It wasn’t really until The Hangover. I was 36 when I did The Hangover, so I was able to go through all of these things before fame even reached my daily existence. So all this happened before all this, “he said.
But Will Arnett, a longtime friend of Bradley’s, thought accepting his addiction was a necessary “metamorphosis” before he could go to fame with The Hangover.
On the rise: but luckily his addiction happened early in his career, and he would get up again with The Hangover (pictured) when he was 36 years old.
“Having these findings and having that change allowed you, that’s what opened you up and allowed you to be you,” said Arrested Development star Bradley, who agreed.
“It’s true,” he admitted. “I definitely made great strides between the ages of 29 and 33, 34, where I could at least stand in front of someone and breathe, listen and talk.”
Bradley shared with listeners Will met through his ex-wife Amy Poehler, with whom he appeared on Wet Hot American Summer in 2001.
At the time, he imagined a comedy career, but it didn’t fit with the comedy trend, where “the thing was bad humor.”
Tough talk: Bradley explained that he was rude at a dinner party with his friend Will Arnett, before the Arrested Development star told him he was a “real one”; seen in March in LA
Although Will excelled at this, Cooper was concerned that “he was hurting people’s feelings.”
It was a dinner party with Will where he became ridiculous which made him realize how bad his addiction had become.
“I remember being at dinner thinking it was a lot of fun, and I thought, these two guys who are my heroes thought I was so much fun,” he recalled, but said Will didn’t find his rides particularly funny. .
He recalled that the 30 Rock actor told him, “You’re a real ***** e,” which was the direct talk he needed to realize the mistake of his ways.
“It was like the first time I realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol,” he explained. “It was Will who told me this. And I’ll just never forget it. I said, ‘Oh, the guy I think is in a bad mood is telling me the truth about it.’
Will sounded excited as he noticed how good it felt to see his friend thrive.
“It’s been great to see you in this place and to be comfortable. Nothing has made me happier,” he said, clearly excited. “It has made me happy to see you so happy with who you are.”
Friendly support: “It’s been great to see you in this place and feel comfortable. Nothing has made me happier,” said Will, clearly excited; seen together in 2018 in Las Vegas
Since cleaning up, Cooper has starred in Oscar-winning films Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.
His Clint Eastwood-directed American Sniper war film was a critical and commercial success, and garnered widespread acclaim for his remake of A Star Is Born, which he directed and starred opposite Lady Gaga.
Cooper will be directing his next biographical Netflix film by Leonard Bernstein, in which he also plays the famous director and songwriter.