I met Bradley Cooper in 2007, shooting an arc on the FX drama Nip/Tuck. Our characters had this wonderfully twisted relationship: I was a closeted TV producer in mad, unrequited love with Bradley, the ambitious, manipulative star of my soap opera. During our first take, he grabbed me by the lapels, threw me against a wall and launched into this insane in-character, off-script rant about how my not going to the gym was breaking his disgusted heart.
Apparently, in our line of work, this is how great friendships begin. Turns out this psycho was in fact a loving, grounded, hardworking fellow whose priorities in life are his dog Charlotte, the Philadelphia Eagles and showing up for people he cares about.
And yes, he’s a dazzling actor. Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, The Elephant Man—these are increasingly brave, eccentric, breathtakingly diverse performances. I barely recognized him in American Sniper; physically and emotionally, he actually kind of disappeared.
It’s hard to make people, especially your friends, forget who you are onscreen. But Bradley’s that good. And I think we’ve seen only a hint of what’s to come.
Platt is an actor who lives in New York City
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