By 2012, Bradley Cooper had already starred in The Hangover, and that same year he was in four different Hollywood movies. His first role was in 1999, so his career as an actor was already well underway, but some of his biggest and best performances would come after 2012.
What’s significant about 2012 in Bradley Cooper’s career, though? Other than the release of Silver Linings Playbook, one of the roles that really put him on the map as a serious actor, this was also the year that Bradley Cooper decided to become sober.
Through the actor’s 20s, he struggled with a party lifestyle that included various narcotics, along with a strong addiction to alcohol. He has said that if he didn’t stop drinking and abusing other substances, then he wouldn’t have been able to maintain and grow his career.
“I did have the benefit of that happening when I was 29,” Cooper explained. “I thought I made it when I got a Wendy’s commercial, and I called my dad saying I’m in a hotel that has a window that opens. In terms of the made-it thing, that’s when I made it. But moving to Los Angeles for Alias, [I was] 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. 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.”
– Bradley Cooper
Bradley credits a lot of his progress to a difficult conversation he had with actor Will Arnett in 2004. It opened up his eyes and put him on a path towards recovery.
Bradley Cooper realized that if he didn’t get sober and turn things around, he knew that he would lose the career he loved and worked so hard for, and he would lose everything else that mattered to him in his life.
What’s Your Reason to Stop Drinking?
Everyone has their own reasons for seeking out a sober life. Sometimes, it becomes a medical necessity. Sometimes, drinking puts too big of a strain on your personal relationships, physical, or mental health.
In some cases, the impact it has on your career and goals and ambitions makes it something that has to be removed from your life in order to do the things you want to do.
Ideally, you’ll make these realizations as early as possible so you can start working towards sobriety, rather than realizing these things later on when it can be more difficult to quit.
In any case, you can always overcome an addition to alcohol. It’s not always easy, but it’s something you can do. Don’t be afraid to seek help, guidance, and mentorship along the way. Whether that’s professional help from an addictions specialist, or simply listening to inspiring stories like Bradley Cooper’s.
