Bradley Cooper Reveals Something His Dad Said That 'Meant the World' to Him

Bradley Cooper gets into character with Alessandro Nivola and Patricia Clarkson in this brand new feature from the December 2014 issue of Vogue magazine.

Here’s what the 39-year-old “Elephant Man” actor had to share with the mag:

On his character John Merrick: “You start out watching a normal man�”me�”becoming this freak, and then once you’ve given yourself over to the illusion, you slowly start to see him as a normal man beneath the skin. And from there, you start to identify with him, to see him as yourself. It’s a very interesting ride, and we’re asking you to suspend your disbelief in a very stripped-down, nuts-and-bolts way.”

On playing real-life heroes: “It’s the most fulfilling feeling as an actor. You’re taking responsibility toward this other guy’s life. It frees up so much energy to pursue it, because it’s not about you.”

On something his dad said after performing his college master’s thesis: “I remember him hugging me afterward and sort of shaking in my arms. And he just said, ‘You picked the right profession.’ That meant the world to me.”

For more on Bradley, visit Vogue.com.