Bradley Cooper Opens Up About Bond With 8-Year-Old Daughter

Bradley Cooper has opened up about the strong connection he shares with his 8-year-old daughter, Lea, highlighting how their bond influences both his personal life and career. The actor revealed at the 2025 New York Film Festival on October 10 how deeply involved Lea has been in his filmmaking journey, reflecting the meaningful role she plays amid his busy schedule.

Lea’s Role in Bradley’s Film Projects

Bradley Cooper described how his daughter Lea has been present throughout key moments in his movie-making process. At the world premiere of Is This Thing On? during the festival’s closing night, he emphasized that Lea has been part of his work since the beginning, noting,

“I was making A Star is Born when she was born and then Maestro, she’s in.”

This connection has naturally evolved as Bradley’s recent film, which features Will Arnett and Laura Dern, was shot in New York City, allowing him to balance work and family time effectively.

Bradley explained his manageable workload helps maintain this balance, sharing,

“I don’t work that much and each project takes years.”

This schedule has given Lea the chance to accompany him to the set, making her involvement a normal aspect of his life rather than something unusual.

He expressed this sentiment by saying,

“It’s just a part of what we do, and it’s kind of a nice thing. She cares so much about it.”

Bradley also hinted that Lea’s input is valued creatively, revealing that she might even earn a producing credit in the future projects by offering candid feedback during casting decisions. He joked,

“Kids, they say exactly what they think, and she has a big opinion about everything,”

before adding,

“I love it and I care what she thinks. Even with casting, we’ll look at casting auditions together.”

Fatherhood’s Stabilizing Impact on Bradley

Bradley Cooper credits becoming a father to Lea as a crucial anchor during turbulent times in his life, particularly amid his sobriety journey. On the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd podcast in early 2024, he candidly shared,

“Honestly, I’m not sure I’d be alive if I weren’t a dad—I don’t know,”

and described the metaphorical anchor that Lea represented for him. He recounted,

“I just needed someone to say, ‘We’re gonna drop this massive anchor,’ and I’m like, ‘Why? We’re speeding. We just got an upgrade on the boat and I know where the wind is coming in.’”

Bradley continued,

“And they’re like, ‘No, there’s a tsunami coming and you need an anchor and we’re gonna drop it,’”

emphasizing how fatherhood reshaped his priorities,

“This is going to dictate everything you do from now on. Your DNA is going to tell you there’s something more important than you.”

The actor, known for roles in The American Sniper and Maestro, now considers Lea his guiding light, stating,

“I want her to have as much foundation as she can—I think about how my relationship with my daughter impacts her growth and the journey she’s gonna be on,”

and expressing a deep personal commitment,

“The least amount of damage I can do to my daughter—please let me work on myself.”

Lea’s Presence in Public Life and Family Moments

Lea’s appearances alongside her famous parents have been warmly shared with the public, offering glimpses of their family life. In October 2024, model Irina Shayk, Lea’s mother and Bradley’s former partner, posted on Instagram about treasured moments with Lea, including beach days and seasonal delights like pumpkins and sunflowers. Irina affectionately referred to their daughter as Lea de Seine and celebrated the simple joys they share.

Irina also shared playful snapshots highlighting Lea’s affectionate and spirited personality. In a June 2024 post filled with cat-themed photos, she warned followers to “Watch out for KITTY CATSSS”, capturing Lea’s lively and whimsical nature. Irina reinforced the close-knit family dynamic in a 2023 interview with Elle, explaining,

“She and Bradley both take Lea everywhere with us,”

and describing Lea as super easy to accompany them. One memorable outing involved a fitting with designer Michael Kors, where Lea left with a goody bag and in return,

“She drew him a kitty cat,”

Irina added with pride.

Lea’s Debut and Influence in Bradley’s Work

Lea made her red carpet debut at the Los Angeles premiere of Maestro in December 2023, a film in which Bradley was deeply involved—as co-writer, director, star, and producer. This milestone followed her cameo appearance in the Oscar-nominated biopic, marking a significant moment in their shared journey through Hollywood.

Praising her presence during filming, Bradley said,

“She was great. She was really awesome.”

While Irina did not attend the L.A. premiere, she offered her social media followers an intimate look at a private screening. Bradley also honored his daughter by naming his production company after her, illustrating how central she is to his creative world. Irina remarked to Elle,

“He’s the best father Lea and I could dream of,”

and added,

“It always works, but it always works because we make it work.”

Lea’s Role in Bradley’s Personal Growth

Bradley gives much credit to his daughter for helping him become a better man emotionally and spiritually. Lea has accompanied him to notable events, including the 2019 Kennedy Center ceremony in Washington, D.C., where Bradley watched his A Star is Born co-star Dave Chappelle receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Discussing fatherhood’s life-changing impact, Bradley shared again on the Armchair Expert podcast in February 2024,

“I want her to have as much foundation as she can—I think about how my relationship with my daughter impacts her growth and the journey she’s gonna be on,”

and stressed,

“The least amount of damage I can do to my daughter—please let me work on myself.”

The actor’s dedication to nurturing a strong bond with Lea reflects a deeper awareness of responsibility shaped by his own challenges and commitment to sobriety. This connection not only guides his role as a father but also informs his approach to life and work as he moves forward.