Bradley Cooper considered skipping the fake nose in Maestro, 'But it just didn't feel right without It'

When criticism surfaced about Bradley Cooper's nose prosthetic in Maestro back in August, just before the film's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Cooper refrained from responding due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. In a recent interview, he seized the chance to address the controversy, revealing that he initially attempted to portray the renowned composer Leonard Bernstein without the prosthetic. However, he ultimately concluded, "we just had to do it."

Navigating Criticism with Calm

"I'm never caught off guard," responded Cooper when questioned about the initial criticism regarding the prosthetic nose. "You never know what might come up. I've approached this entire project with passion, and my origins are crystal clear to me. Interestingly, my nose is quite similar to Lenny's. The prosthetic is essentially like a silk sheet."

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Receiving widespread critical acclaim, Bradley Cooper not only stars in but also directs and co-writes the film. When the backlash emerged in August, the children of the actual Leonard Bernstein — Jamie, Alexander, and Nina — promptly released a collective statement in support of Cooper.

ADL Defends Cooper

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also stood by Bradley Cooper, stating to Variety, "Throughout history, Jews were often portrayed in antisemitic films and propaganda as evil caricatures with large, hooked noses. This film, which is a biopic on the legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein, is not that."

In collaboration with Oscar-winning makeup artist Kazu Hiro, known for his work on films like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Darkest Hour," Cooper meticulously crafted the prosthetics featured in the film. Hiro addressed the initial criticism himself during the movie's press conference at the Venice Film Festival.

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Maestro, directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, and Benny Safdie, premieres in select theaters on November 22. Global streaming on Netflix begins from December 20.