Bradley Cooper opens up about road to sobriety

Bradley Cooper has suffered two blockbuster hangovers on screen, but the leading man has been sober for eight years.

“The Words” star opened up about his road to sobriety, specifically what led him to get clean at age 29, after some rash behavior forced him to reevaluate his life.

“I don’t drink or do drugs at all anymore,” Cooper told The Hollywood Reporter. “Being sober helps a great deal.”

While Cooper is this year’s Sexiest Man Alive, and brings home an A-list paycheck, he acknowledges insecurity is what lead to his addiction.

“I was so concerned what you thought of me, how I was coming across, how I would survive the day. I always felt like an outsider,” he said. “I realized I wasn’t going to live up to my potential, and that scared the hell out of me.”
Cooper needn’t fear about unrealized potential. With a slew of highbrow projects, and a reported $15 million rate for the third installment of director Todd Phillips’ “Hangover” franchise, he’s at the top of his game.

“He is very smart and sincere and can try all sides of the spectrum. He is very good and is going to get better and better,” Robert De Niro, Cooper’s “Limitless” costar, told the magazine.

Next, Bradley will head to the Toronto International Film Festival in support of “The Silver Linings Playbook,” his awards-bait drama from David O. Russell, costarring “The Hunger Games” lead Jennifer Lawrence.

And for you Ministry readers following Cooper’s potential casting as Beyoncé’s male lead in Clint Eastwood’s “A Star Is Born” remake: not happening.

“Just a rumor,” Cooper told E! News at Tuesday’s Hollywood premiere of “The Words.”

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