Bradley Cooper Spent 6 Years Learning This 1 Thing to Play Leonard Bernstein

Bradley Cooper might just be reaching a Daniel Day-Lewis level of dedication when it comes to acting.

The A Star Is Born actor revealed during a recent Los Angeles screening that he spent six years learning to conduct in preparation for his upcoming biopic about Leonard Bernstein, Maestro.

Cooper, who stars as Bernstein and also directed the film, said he put in that work for a six-minute scene involving the famed composer conducting the 1976 London Symphony Orchestra in Ely Cathedral.

"That scene I was so worried about because we did it live. That was the London Symphony Orchestra. I was recorded live, I had to conduct them," Cooper explained during a New York City tastemakers screening Q&A at the Whitby Hotel moderated by Lin-Manuel Miranda, as reported by IndieWire.

He added, "And I spent six years learning how to conduct six minutes and 21 seconds of music."

To prepare, Cooper got his hands on a raw take of Bernstein conducting that London Symphony Orchestra performance and studied with "wonderful teachers" who helped him along the way.

"I was terrified, absolutely terrified that if I hadn't done the work that I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself in these scenes," he said. "And everybody did."

Maestro is in theaters Nov. 22 and available to stream on Netflix Dec. 20.