Bradley Cooper is earning acclaim with A Star Is Born — and he’s already made an incredible friend in his leading lady.
The actor and first-time director, 43, spoke to PEOPLE’s JD Heyman and Melody Chiu at the Los Angeles premiere of his film about the strong friendship he developed with Lady Gaga on Monday night.
“I made a friend for life. As great as this movie was the thing that I think I’ll take away forever is the relationship I have with her because she is an incredible person. I’m very lucky to have worked with her,” Cooper said while at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
When it came to meeting her for the film, Cooper visited the pop star at her home and bonded over a meal.
“That was absolutely insane. When you’re telling it, I can’t believe that happened,” Cooper said, adding he felt nervous singing for her. “The only reason I had the courage is because she made me feel so comfortable.”
The actor, who also directed the film, said he used a video of their first duet for a pitch meeting, adding it “just sort of happened.”
“I didn’t know we were going to record it. She stopped after the first verse and said has anyone heard you sing? I said not really. She said, ‘Well, let’s record.’ The chemistry felt so good and so easy that I went to Warner Bros. the next day and played it for them,” he explained.
Gaga returned the compliment to the star and opened up about their immediate connection.
“We had instant chemistry when I met him,” Gaga said. “As soon as I opened the door to my house and saw him, it was like, ‘You hungry?’ We’re both Italian and from the East Coast and before I knew it, I was heating up some leftovers for him and we were eating together.”
