Bradley Cooper's life "changed" the moment he watched his father die in his arms.

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper

The 43-year-old actor was left heartbroken in January 2011 when his beloved dad Charles Cooper took his last breath and, although it usually takes a while for a devastating loss like that to hit home for a lot of people, he felt it "instantaneously."

Speaking to the New York Times newspaper, he said: "It's a new reality. Everything, everything. It's not even one thing, it's a whole new world.

"And it was instantaneous. It wasn't like, months later. It was like, his last exhale, and I was holding him, and it was like, everything changed."

Around the time of his father's death, Bradley was approached for 'A Star is Born' - which had Clint Eastwood as director at the time - but he snubbed the opportunity because he didn't feel he was "weathered" enough at 36 to play Jackson Maine.

However, four years later, the 'Hangover' hunk felt he had enough life experience to do the role justice and not only did he star alongside Lady Gaga - who portrayed his lover Ally - but he also made his directorial debut and co-wrote the script.

He explained: "Honestly, I could see it on my face. I just felt it [was right to do]."

Meanwhile, this isn't the first time Bradley has opened up about his father's passing as back in 2016 he gave a speech at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy launch in which he said it was "overwhelming" caring for Charles.

He said at the time: "I can't even imagine how much more difficult it is for those patients and the families that are less fortunate than I was that simply can't afford to pay for both treatment and rent."