In 2015, Bradley Cooper and Matthew Rhys starred in Burnt, a drama about a talented and arrogant chef’s fall from grace, and his subsequent professional and emotional resurrection. While Cooper played the protagonist, Adam Jones, Rhys portrayed the role of his arch-rival Montgomery Reece. The two actors who are known for their intense performances, also shared a great chemistry on and off-screen.
While Bradley Cooper’s method acting skills to get into the skin of his characters is well known, Matthew Rhys saw this side of his co-star firsthand, while working with him in Burnt. The Brothers and Sisters actor recalled a particularly challenging scene in which the Silver Linings Playbook star actually risked his life for the shot, requiring Rhys to become his savior.
Bradley Cooper’s Life Was In The Hands Of Matthew Rhys in Burnt
In Burnt, Hollywood stars Bradley Cooper and Matthew Rhys shared screen space as two rival chefs. The film elaborates on the protagonist played by Cooper, who faces a trial by fire in his professional and personal life before becoming a better person. Burnt had many powerful scenes that showcased many internal and emotional dilemmas that the Guardians of the Galaxy star portrayed to perfection.
Cooper also proved that he is one of the masters of method acting in a scene that involved the celebrity risking his life in reality. In the scene, the character grabs a plastic bag and covers his head, almost suffocating himself in real life, until Rhys’s character comes in to tear it open. While this segment was written to be depicted his way on screen, the tension of trying to save Cooper was too real and stressful for the British star. Speaking to Fox 5’s Good Day New York, Rhys recalled,
“What I was required to do was tear the plastic bag from his face before he killed himself. So there was no acting required on my behalf, it was genuine panic.”
The Americans star went on to praise Cooper for his fearless creativity, and his ability to get the best out of any scene and character despite putting himself in harm’s way.
Bradley Cooper and Matthew Rhys Became Besties On Set
Apart from sharing screen space professionally in Burnt, Bradley Cooper and Matthew Rhys also developed a close bond as friends behind the scenes of the film. Although both actors played arch-rivals in the film, their off-screen camaraderie was heartwarming and memorable, by Cooper’s own admission.
Speaking at a Manhattan conference (via Showbiz 411), the Oscar nominee spoke about his easy and seamless relationship with his co-star and the manner in which he helped him during the intense plastic bag scene in the film that ultimately got them closer together.
“It just feels vulnerable doing something like that in front of 12 people you don’t know at all, but ultimately it was beautiful, because Matthew Rhys who plays Reece was just incredible. We didn’t really know each other at all and next thing you know, he’s caressing me and calmed me down. We’re bonded.”
Evidently, their off-screen friendship translated well onto the big screen, with both Cooper and Rhys receiving a lot of critical acclaim for their individual performances as well as their chemistry in the film.
