Bradley Cooper

Q: Do you think there’s a stigma against mental illness? It’s regarded as a taboo issue?

Is it? I don’t know. Well if it is, it would be nice maybe for this movie to change that. The hope is that you can relate to these characters, and certainly when we tested the movie, a lot of the feedback was, I could actually relate to these people.

Q: Have you had it yourself?

Well, I don’t see these people as mentally ill. (laughter) I don’t think they are mentally ill, I think that they are complicated but I think that they are interesting characters. He’s done a plea bargain, that’s why he agreed to go to the hospital. Remember the plot? So he did that in order so he wouldn’t have to go to jail. But then when he was in there, he was diagnosed as bi-polar.

Q: He doesn’t have a boundary between what he should and shouldn’t say.

Yeah he has no filter.

Did you visit a mental hospital? There wasn’t much time, but David (O. Russell) sent me some material and a bunch of videos. I went online and I remember there was one thing; I saw a documentary of a guy who had recorded his own depression and mental illness for years. And I remember thinking that I could relate to it, the way it was written. It’s set in Philadelphia, and the relationship with the father and the mother, I know that world. So you make connections.

Q: Do you think love is the answer to cure illnesses? This guy meets a girl and then all is fine? Well, I don’t think he’s cured. I don’t think the message is that he’s cured, I mean as life goes on, he’s made impove ments. Did you get the feeling that he was cured?

Q: No, but he looked different in the end.Clearly. You see a guy who’s gotten his shit together, for

Q: Do you think it would be better in life if everyone was like that? Well aren’t they like that? Q: No, definitely not.

The press is not like that? Oh, I thought they were. They actually make up stuff? (laughs)

Q: Are you like that yourself? Is that how you try to live your life?

I try to be as honest as I can. I mean caring, I would say caring, and you try to be caring.

Q: Do you think it’s important in relationships as well to be completely honest with each other?

I think you try to be loving. That’s the key.Q: How do you stay positive in your life?

You know, trying to stay in this place of gratitude. I think that sort of perpetuates positivity.

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