In anticipation of his role as the iconic conductor Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming biopic ‘Maestro,’ 48-year-old actor Bradley Cooper is taking his on-screen connection with the Bernstein family off-set. Cooper is set to spend Thanksgiving with Leonard Bernstein’s children, Nina, Jamie, and Alexander, in Connecticut, fostering the bond they developed during the filming of the biopic.
During an appearance on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ Cooper shared his holiday plans, stating, “We are going to go to (New) Jersey and then we’re going to go to Fairfield to spend it with the Bernsteins – the children. And we shot (‘Maestro’) in that house.”
Cooper, who invested six years in preparing for the role, including immersing himself in the world of the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra, expressed how the experience of portraying Bernstein and working alongside co-star Carey Mulligan felt more like channeling real individuals than acting. He described it as a thrilling and unique experience that he may never encounter again.
The Oscar-winning actor also revealed a childhood fascination with conducting, confessing, “I’ve always been in love with conducting – fake conducting, as a kid.” He shared that he used to spend “hundreds of hours conducting” in his bedroom to cartoons like “Tom and Jerry.”
Despite the excitement surrounding his portrayal of Leonard Bernstein, Cooper faced criticism for wearing a prosthetic nose to embody the late Jewish composer. In response, he expressed his emotional reaction when the conductor’s family released a statement of support.
“I read it (the statement), and I called Alex (Bernstein) to thank him … and I remember I called him on the phone, and I heard his voice. And then I couldn’t believe it, but this huge emotional exhalation came out, and I just was crying so hard, I couldn’t even thank him. And he started crying. And it was an incredible moment. And … sometimes you don’t even know what’s going on, you know … I couldn’t believe that gesture. It was very moving to me,” Cooper explained during an appearance on CBS News.
The family’s statement, released in August, conveyed their appreciation for Cooper’s commitment to the role and clarified their support for his use of make-up to amplify his resemblance to Bernstein. They affirmed, “We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well.”
As Bradley Cooper extends his Thanksgiving celebration to include Leonard Bernstein’s family, the connection forged during the making of ‘Maestro’ continues to resonate beyond the silver screen.
