Even celebrities of superstar status have people they look up to and for Bradley Cooper, that person is Robert De Niro. Robert De Niro became widely popular for his work in films like The Godfather and his status has gone unmatched even after all these years. We understand why he is Bradley Cooper’s idol.
As Bradley Cooper grew through the ranks of the film industry, he and Robert De Niro grew a bond thanks to their collaborations. It must have been absolutely dreamy working with a person who you have grown up admiring. Bradley Cooper sure realizes this as he opens up about what it’s like working with his idol and how his advice helps still helps him get through setbacks in his life.
Bradley Cooper Still Uses Robert De Niro’s Advice
Talking to Style in 2020, Bradley Cooper gushed up about the fact that he’s now friends with a star of Robert De Niro’s caliber, especially since he was his idol growing up. Cooper recalled the time De Niro paid a visit to his graduate school where the former had the privilege of asking the latter a question. Whatever De Niro might have said to him, stuck with Cooper for the years to come ahead.
““[It feels] completely surreal. I see him as a man now, that myth is utterly broken, he is my friend – which is, in itself, a very surreal occurrence. I remember he came to my graduate school, and I asked him a question, and it was the most nerve-racking experience of my life. It was like a beam of light shot through my stomach when he looked at me, and I used that as fuel for years when I would put myself on the line for something. When I get rejected or turned down over and over, I’d think about the reception I got from Robert De Niro that day and keep going.”
In another interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cooper talked about the question he asked De Niro. He stated that De Niro telling him he had a “good question” inspired him to keep listening to his heart and going with his gut.
“I remember when you said, ‘good question,’ it felt like a light shot through my stomach. You’d done the whole interview and hadn’t said that to any [host James] Lipton’s questions were good…I asked the school if I could have the video tape…And I would play that. I’m not even kidding. Because this business is so difficult. And I would think, ‘Go with your gut, look what happened, Robert De Niro said that was a good question.’ And that really kept me going for like, three years, I’m not kidding.”
Our role models may never realize the impact their small gestures have on their fans. Perhaps it was De Niro’s words to Cooper that pushed him to great limits, eventually flaunting a total of nine Oscar nominations for his work. You never know what might end up inspiring someone!
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Bradley Cooper Respects Robert De Niro’s Advice
If you ever get the opportunity to ask De Niro for his advice, you better take it as he won’t mind giving you one. In an interview with ABC News, the Taxi Driver actor was asked if his fellow actors ever ask him for advice. De Niro replied in an affirmative adding that he appreciates the gesture.
“Some people do and I like giving advice. Some young actor friends of mine will ask me for advice and I like to do it. I appreciate it. They listen, and they take what they want, what they can use, like I do.”
In an interview with TODAY, De Niro once again reflected on this topic stating,
“I like to give advice to younger actors or anybody who wants it…I love to give advice to my children but they are at an age where they don’t usually want to listen. But…Bradley listens.”
So far, Cooper and De Niro have collaborated in four films – Limitless, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and Joy. It’s evident that the two love working together and have a deep-rooted respect for each other.
Source: Style
