《一个明星的诞生》伦敦首映

Message of New Film ‘A Star Is Born’ Sings True for Cast

When actor Bradley Cooper saw singer Lady Gaga perform at the home of businessman Sean Parker, it was not just one of the important moments toward making the movie "A Star Is Born."

It was, Cooper says, the moment.

"She demolished² the room," he remembers. "I knew that was plutonium."

The next day, Cooper went to Gaga's home in Malibu. He arrived hungry. Gaga fed him spaghetti. The two East Coast, Italian- American performers shared an immediate³, natural connection.

Within minutes, they were singing by Gaga's piano and "A Star Is Born" was, well, born.

Gaga said of that day, "And when I heard him sing! My God! I stopped playing the piano and I was like, 'Bradley you can sing!'"

The latest "A Star Is Born" film is the fourth version of the story. Its release comes more than 80 years after the first.

The new movie has been in development at Warner Brothers for about 20 years.

The film brings many firsts for both Gaga and Cooper. Gaga debuts⁵ as a film actor and Cooper, as a director. Cooper also acts in the film.

Actor Sam Elliott is another cast member. He described Cooper as a "tireless” director.

"He never quit on it, from beginning to end."

Gaga acts! Cooper sings!

Cooper stars as Jackson Maine, a country-rock 'n' roll star who drinks too much alcohol. He sees Ally, played by Lady Gaga, singing in a bar and is excited by her skill.

Ally, however, has given up on her dream of musical success. She has been told she does not have the right “look.”

She and Jackson soon fall in love, even as Jackson's drinking problem worsens. Together, they create something honest and beautiful through music. It rockets Ally to stardom.

Gaga said the movie brings back memories.

"When I'm watching it back, I see myself as a much younger girl, more like when I was 15 writing songs at the piano," she said. "What Jackson is trying to teach her is something that I still want to give more of in my music now and in the future.”

Actors find movie's message is personal

Cooper's "A Star Is Born" has been met with great public excitement. The movie’s trailer has been watched more than 10 million times. Its showings at the famous film festivals in Venice and Toronto received major critical praise.

The film’s message -- that success can come to those who are true to their art -- seems to have a powerful effect on viewers.

It is something that rings true for many in the cast, too, including Anthony Ramos. He plays Ally's best friend. The 26-year-old actor grew up poor in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and got his big break on Broadway in "Hamilton."

"I've had teachers tell me, 'You have to be this or you have to be that to be successful. You have to change the way you speak. You have to grow your hair out.' I've had people tell me all kinds of things to give me the formula for success," says Ramos. "But what I realize, which you find by the end of this movie, all you gotta do is love yourself and believe in yourself, and continue to be your truest self."

Gaga has won many fans for her message of self-acceptance. She says she identifies with both her character and with the more troubled Jackson. The pop star has been open about her mental health struggles and her rape⁶, which happened when she was 19 years old.

"Jackson's plight⁷ in the film and his substance abuse, it really stays with me. The mental health aspect, the substance abuse aspect, the trauma⁸ aspect. I told Bradley right after we watched it in Venice that I had to take 30 minutes to myself in a back room somewhere," says Gaga. "If I act again, the experience has to be as deep as this one or it wouldn't be fulfilling to me."

Cooper also says "A Star is Born" has changed him.

"I find myself thinking of lines Jackson says often, just in terms of taking on a new project: What am I trying to say and how am I going to say it?" Cooper said.

Ramos' success recently led his own older brother to quit his job and "go for it," like Ally does in the film. After "A Star Is Born" opens in theaters Friday, more stars are ready to be born.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

demolish¹ -v. to destroy; to tear down; slang to perform extremely well

plutonium -n. a radioactive element that is used to make nuclear energy and nuclear weapons?, slang explosive

spaghetti -n. pasta in the shape of long, thin strings⁹?

debut⁴ -n. the first time an actor, musician, athlete, etc., does something in public or for the public?

break -n. a lucky situation or event that makes success possible?

plight -n. a very bad or difficult situation — usually singular?

trauma -n. a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time

1 demolish   

v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等)

参考例句：

• They're going to demolish that old building.他们将拆毁那座旧建筑物。
• He was helping to demolish an underground garage when part of the roof collapsed.他当时正在帮忙拆除一个地下汽车库，屋顶的一部份突然倒塌。

2 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

5 debuts   

演员首次演出( debut的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He never really debuts the idea of taking money from his parents any longer. 他从此就再也没有认真起过向父母要钱的念头。
• This young soprano debuts next month at the metropolitan opera. 这位年轻的女高音歌唱家下个月将在纽约大都会歌剧院举行首演。

6 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

7 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

8 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

9 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。