Bradley Cooper Opens Up On Past Struggle With Cocaine And Alcohol Addiction

A-list star Bradley Cooper, one of Hollywood's most talented actors and entertainers, is getting candid about his previous struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction. The famous actor was recently featured on the Smartless podcast, where he spoke about the realizations that inspired him to change his life and take control.

One of the podcast's hosts is actor Will Arnett, and he also spoke about Cooper's addiction phase, saying that his friend experienced a metamorphosis that literally changed his life and opened him up, allowing him to become the success we know Cooper as today. Read on to find out more.

During his appearance on Amazon Music and Wondery's "Smartless" podcast, 47-year-old Cooper got very candid about how he realized he had a "problem with drugs and alcohol" and why he decided to take back control of his life by getting sober.

He said, "I was so lost and I was addicted to cocaine — that was the other thing. I severed my Achilles tendon right after I got fired-slash-quit Alias and struggled with zero self-esteem."

He also had an incident while on drugs and alcohol that was a sign of a bigger problem. Around the time of his breakthrough acting role in "Wedding Crashers," Cooper intentionally smashed his head on concrete while at a party and had to be hospitalized. 

However, Cooper's addiction started a while before he became famous and People's 2012 Sexiest Man Alive. He also spoke about this and said, "I did have the benefit of that happening when I was 29. I thought I made it when I got a Wendy's commercial...."

He continued, "In terms of the made-it thing, that's when I made it. But I definitely did not feel, moving to Los Angeles for Alias feeling like I was back in high school: I could not get into any clubs, no girls wanted to look at me. I was totally depressed."

"It wasn't really until 'The Hangover,'" Cooper explained, "I was 36 when I did 'The Hangover,' so I got to go through all those things before fame even played into my existence on a daily level. So all that happened before any of that."

Arnett is one of the podcast's hosts and Cooper's friend, so he also spoke about the actor's addiction struggles. He called Cooper's realization that he needed to take back control of his life a "metamorphosis" that set him up for the fame and success that "The Hangover" brought.

He said, "Having those realizations and having that change allowed you to— that's what opened you up and allowed you to be you." Cooper agreed with him and said, "It's true. I definitely made major breakthroughs at 29 to 33, 34, where at least I was able to stand in front of somebody and breathe and listen and talk." 

Cooper also credited Arnett for being a good influence in his life and explained that he stepped onto the "path of deciding to change my life" in July 2004 after having a long conversation with Arnett. 

Arnett himself also spoke about the differences he noticed in Cooper, saying, "It has been awesome seeing you in this place and seeing you comfortable. Nothing has made me happier. It's made me happy to see you so happy with who you are."

Cooper has never hidden his struggles with addiction and journey to sobriety from his fans. He opened up about it during a cover story interview with GQ magazine in 2013. 

He said, "If I continued it (his addictions), I was really going to sabotage my whole life." 

He explained that despite never being late to the set, his addiction still found a way to hinder his work. And once he gave it all up, he "rediscovered himself" and experienced a personal renaissance.

He said, "I was doing these movies, and I got to meet Sandra Bullock and meet these people and work with them. And I'm sober, and I'm like, 'Oh, I'm actually myself. And I don't have to put on this air to be somebody else, and this person still wants to work with me? Oh, what the f––– is that about?' I was rediscovering myself in this workplace, and it was wonderful."