Bradley Cooper is more than the lead actor in the 2018 film A Star Is Born opposite Lady Gaga. He’s also the film’s director, and he also co-wrote the script and oversaw the entire production. It’s also important to note that Cooper penned several of the songs in the film, giving us further insight into his musical talent.
In the movie, Cooper plays the role of Jackson Maine, a country-rock music star. The transformation is impressive, from his rough, rugged look to his gravelly, raspy voice. You can tell he put a lot of work into it, into creating a genuine character truly worth remembering.
How did he do it? How did Bradley Cooper turn himself into the gifted, yet troubled Jackson battling his demons? Read on to find out!
Guitar Skills
For the role of country rock artist Jackson Maine, Cooper spent six months learning how to play guitar and piano. He played the upright bass when he was younger, so he has some knowledge of the stringed instrument. Cooper set up a routine that incorporates his music playing and writing sessions.
Cooper’s days went something like this: He’d wake up in the morning and do his workouts, then sit down for guitar practice, which takes two hours. Then it’s another two hours for piano lessons before he eats his lunch. In the afternoon, Lukas Nelson (the son of music legend Willie Nelson and Cooper’s collaborator for the film) would drop by. They would write the music for the film for 1.5 hours. For the rest of the day, Cooper would write the screenplay. Rinse and repeat.
Voice
Lady Gaga recognized Cooper’s raw talent when they sang “The Midnight Special” together when they first met – Cooper came over at her house, intent on asking her to become the leading lady on his film. They downloaded the sheet music and they sat next to each other at the piano, with Gaga taking over the keys. After one verse, Gaga stopped, and, staring at Cooper, asked: “Has anyone heard you sing?”
In an interview, Lady Gaga said that when she heard how soulful Cooper’s voice was, she knew that his vision for the film would work. She also believed in Cooper’s ability to become the musician the story calls for – he already is. Cooper said that her faith in him as a musician gave him courage, allowing him to perform in front of thirty thousand people.
Initially, he had no idea how to sing, how to breathe – but thanks to the musicians he worked with, including Nelson, he was able to perform in front of a live audience without freezing up. He also spent nearly a year and half taking voice lessons to prepare for his role.
For the film, Cooper also lowered his voice, but was careful not to make his character “too country.” He modeled his character’s voice after actor Sam Elliott’s voice (Elliott was later cast as Cooper’s brother in the movie).
He hired a vocal coach, and they spent many hours developing Jackson Maine’s voice. For six months, Cooper worked with his coach for four hours a day, five days a week. They developed a series of vocal exercises, listened to voice tapes and tried to work out a method to bring Cooper’s vocal register an octave lower.
Eventually, Cooper did it – he managed to lower his voice to fit what he’d envisioned for his character. The result is a remarkably authentic voice that’s full of impact, something that audiences were not likely to forget.
Have you seen the film? How did you find it and what did you think of Cooper’s performance?
