Bradley Cooper has opened up on his time when he hit the big time with a guest role early in his career, appearing as Carrie Bradshaw’s brief love interest in an episode of Sex and the City.
Cooper, whose biographical drama Maestro has been awarded seven Oscar nominations ahead of this year’s Academy Awards, was speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, when he looked back to his brief time on the hit show, back in 1999. He remembered his fears going in, as he had lied about being able to drive a sports car during his audition.
He said: “I remember when I got the call to do it I was terrified. ‘What do you mean I’m actually going to have to do it?’ I couldn’t drive a stick shift, so they sent me to Models Driving School and I was just terrified.
“I still messed it up, so they had somebody else drive the car and I just had to… pretend that we stopped.”
The actor appeared on screen as Jake in the episode They Shoot Single People, Don’t They?, which aired during the hit HBO show’s second season in 1999.
Other famous alumni from the comedy include Elizabeth Banks, Justin Theroux, Vince Vaughn and Matthew McConaughey.
Cooper was being presented at the Film Festival with the award for Outstanding Performer of the Year Award, for his work on Maestro. He goes into this year’s Oscars with nods for Best Picture and Best Picture, but not for Best Director.