Bradley Cooper's Fascination with Leonard Bernstein

Bradley Cooper reveals that his enduring fascination with renowned conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein can be traced back to his childhood love for cartoons.

"It all started with Tom and Jerry and Bugs Bunny," Cooper shared during an interview on "CBS Mornings." "I remember watching them conduct and being captivated by it. I even asked Santa Claus for a baton when I was around 8 years old. From that point on, I became obsessed with conducting."

Cooper described the magical quality of conducting, where the simple act of waving a baton can produce beautiful sound. "That's where it all began," he said. "It gave me an incredible feeling of being a maestro."

After making his directorial debut with "A Star is Born," Cooper is now set to bring Bernstein's life to the big screen in his upcoming film, "Maestro." In addition to directing, Cooper will also portray Bernstein, the iconic figure who mesmerized audiences worldwide with his conducting and composed beloved musicals like "West Side Story."

"To me, it's all interconnected," Cooper explained when discussing his dual role as an actor and director. "I see it as filmmaking. It starts with an idea, then you write it, and finally, there's a part of me that becomes the character."

Actor Bradley Cooper spent six years preparing for his role as Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming film. He handpicked Carey Mulligan to play the role of Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre. The film explores the complex relationship between the couple, which was documented through their love letters.

Mulligan spoke highly of Montealegre, describing her as iconic, magnetic, wry, and deeply intelligent. She also emphasized the devotion Montealegre had for Bernstein from the moment they met. However, their relationship was not without struggles, particularly due to Bernstein's affairs with other men, a bold subject for its historical context. Despite these challenges, Cooper believes that they were truly in love.

"That's the reason why I wanted to make the movie was, I believe that they found each other's soulmates," Cooper said. He described their relationship as both "complicated" and "universal."

In addition to his role as Bernstein, Cooper also took on the challenge of conducting live for the film. He described the experience as both thrilling and terrifying, comparing it to singing at the Oscars. Cooper admitted that he initially struggled with conducting, but eventually found his rhythm.

Mulligan expressed that the challenging aspects of a task are what make it enjoyable. He emphasized the importance of taking on something that is terrifying and daunting, stating that if it's not terrifying, it's not worth doing.

The family of Bernstein, who was involved in the production of the film, praised Cooper for including them in every step of the filmmaking process. They defended him against criticism he faced for using a prosthetic nose to transform into Bernstein. Cooper revealed that he had initially considered not using a prosthetic, but ultimately decided to achieve a balance between his own features and Bernstein's distinctive appearance.

Bernstein's children wrote a letter of support for Cooper, expressing their gratitude for his efforts and addressing any misrepresentations or misunderstandings. Cooper personally called them to thank them for their support, and their conversation brought both of them to tears.

Incredible Moment Leaves Witness Speechless

"And it was an incredible moment. And I, sometimes you don't even know what's going on, you know...I couldn't believe that gesture. It was very moving to me," he said.