Bradley Cooper he hates to talk about his personal life, but he is not secretive about his “battle” with alcohol and drugs. The famous actor talked about his years of sobriety, this time among the snowy canyons of Wyoming, in a recent episode of the show “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” by National Geographic. Cooper spoke about how 19 years away from alcohol helped him bring to life some of his most impressive performances, notably in the film “A Star Is Born” (2018), for which he was nominated for an Oscar.

When the British host asked Cooper which roles have influenced him the most, he cited “Hangover” as an important moment in his career. His response led to a discussion about his problems with substance use. “You’ve certainly had some wild years,” said the presenter, with the actor replying: “Regarding alcohol and drugs, yes, but it has nothing to do with fame».

He then revealed that his addiction to alcohol and drugs and how he overcame it helped him get into character in A Star Is Born, a film he directed and co-starred with Lady Gaga and which earned him eight Oscar nominations. In it he plays Jackson Maine, an alcoholic rock star. “It made it easier to really get into the role,” she said. He also revealed that he feels very lucky to have overcome his problems at such a young age. “I was lucky. I’ve been sober for 19 years.”

This is not the first time that the actor, who has also helped some of his colleagues such as Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt to deal with their own addictions, has spoken about his past and his addiction to alcohol and drugs.

In an episode of the Smartless podcast that aired last year, Cooper also opened up about his cocaine addiction and the obstacles he faced early in his career. The show’s producers, actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett – good friends of the American Sniper star – asked him how he managed to do this “battle” at the age of 20. “I loved life and I wanted to succeed,” he said.

Bradley Cooper is one of the many celebrities who have appeared on Bear Grylls’ shows, where they talk about some of their most intimate moments while going on extreme adventures.