SUMMER 2011
celebratedliving.com
30
COVER STORY
Happy to Be Here
chef whoworks at aNewYork eatery on
the Fox television series
KitchenConfiden-
tial
(2005).
WhileCooperhasnosetplan forhisacting
future, hedetails, “I justwant toget better
andbetter. I havenoplan foracting, and
there isnoPlanB.Myplan is to just keepon
working!”As one of the hardest-working
actors in showbusiness today, he sayshe
“would love todoaWestern, playa soldier, as
well as star inperiodfilms”andhopes to land
theattentionof directorBazLuhrmann for
the coveted roleofTomBuchanan in
The
GreatGatsby
.Likemanywell-roundedactors,
Cooperalsowants toadd the roleof director
tohis résuméoneday.
Next on tapfindsCooper starring in
The
Words,
a thriller fairy taleabout awriter
whoachieves successafter stealinganother
writer’swork. Co-writtenby childhood friend
and screenwriterBrianKlugman (theyhave
knowneachother since their school days
atPhiladelphia’sGermantownAcademy),
thepartwasnotwritten specificallywith
Cooper inmind.
Life thesedays isfilledwithhitmovies,
fame, and the subsequent paparazzi that
accompany themovie-starpackage (and it’s
onlybeena littlemore thanadecadesincehe
entered theactingscene).Goneare thedays
whenhecangoaboutunnoticed inhishome-
townofPhiladelphia,wherehestill spends
halfhis time, andheproudlyadmits to“stay-
ing inmybedroomwhere Igrewupasa
child.”Whennot traveling forafilm, he’sat
hishome inVenice, outsideofLosAngeles, the
restof theyear. “Famehasbeenokay, and it
goes inwaves,”heexplains. “I justgotback to
LosAngelesand thepaparazzi havealready
started!”Hebalances thisby“living in the
presentmoment”and feels, “I am lucky
enough tobe inaprofessionwhereyouhave to
becompletelypresentwithwhoever theactor
isyouarestarringopposite.Myhope is this
practicebleeds intomypersonal life.”
While it’s takenadecade tobecomean
overnight sensationasa leadingman, the
humbleandanything-but-arrogantactor is the
kindof guymenwant tohangaroundwith,
womenswoonover, andaudiencesadore.Yes,
BradleyCooperhas trulyarrived.
‘‘
’’
I am lucky
enough to
be in a
profession
where you
have tobe
completely
present
withwhoever
the actor is
you are
starring
opposite.
My hope
is this
practice
bleeds
intomy
personal
life.
©NINOMUNOZ/CPISYNDICATION
