Bradley Cooper sparks ‘Jewface’ controversy over ‘unnecessary’ prosthetic nose in trailer for Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro: ‘So many great Jewish actors out there’
Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose in the newly released trailer for Leonard Bernstein’s biopic Maestro has sparked online chatter, with some berating the actor/director for playing off “Jewface” stereotypes with the exaggerated facial features and the casting of a not -Jewish actor in a Jewish role.
The 48-year-old Philadelphia resident plays the role of the legendary musical conductor in the film opposite Carey Mulligan, who plays his wife Felicia Montealegre, as the film explores their relationship.
On social media, many users sounded off on the size of the prosthesis, and some used photos to show that Bernstein’s nose was nowhere near that size.
“It seems totally unnecessary to go that route given the uncanny resemblance,” said one user, “the real Leonard Bernstein didn’t have the funny nose Bradley Cooper wears in Maestro.”
Another user added that “Bradley Cooper didn’t have to add a weird prosthetic nose to this to play Leonard Bernstein” since “his own nose is longer!”
The latest: Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose in the trailer for Leonard Bernstein’s biopic Maestro has sparked online chatter, with some calling out the actor/director, 48, for playing to ‘Jewface’ stereotypes with the exaggerated features
One user commented that the Academy Award-nominated star, who is not Jewish, shouldn’t have even been in the casting discussion with “so many great Jewish actors out there.”
Jake Gyllenhaal, who is Jewish, had a competing biopic but lost in the battle for the rights to use Bernstein’s material against Cooper and his production team for the film, which included movie icons Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Another user said, “I still would have preferred if they at least gave Jewish actors a chance to audition before automatically casting someone more famous.”
One user said that Cooper’s appearance was both offensive and unnecessary to the actual storytelling process in the film.
“Bradley Cooper wearing a prosthetic nose to play Leonard Bernstein is the equivalent of Black face,” the user said. “He should be able to portray the character through the greatness of his own acting.
“Especially if Cooper was hired because of a Jewish actor. There must be a line.’
One user, noting that they’re rooting for The Hangover star in his quest for Oscar gold, said they could see the prosthetic concerns.
“I love Bradley Cooper and I want him to get an Oscar, but I understand the concerns about jewface,” the user commented. Carey Mulligan, on the other hand, ENGAGED in her period pieces. That voice. She’s so cute.’
Cooper plays the role of the legendary musical conductor in the film opposite Carey Mulligan, who plays his wife Felicia Montealegre, as the film explores their relationship
Some users said that Bernstein should have been played by a Jewish actor instead of Cooper, who is not Jewish
On social media, many users sounded off on the size of the prosthesis, and some used a photo to show that Bernstein’s nose was nowhere near that size
Another argued that The Hangover actor already looked a lot like Bernstein, making the prosthesis unnecessary
The concept of “Jewface” has been debated throughout Hollywood, with some people criticizing Felicity Jones, who is not Jewish, and playing the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the 2018 film On the Basis of Sex.
Another controversy came in the fall of 2021 when Kathryn Hahn, who is not Jewish, was cast to play the late comic book and talk show host Joan Rivers in a limited series titled The Comeback Girl. (The project did not proceed due to licensing rights.)
One of the biggest critics of Hahn’s casting was Sarah Silverman – who, in a tongue-in-cheek twist, plays the part of Shirley Bernstein in Maestro alongside Cooper.
On The Sarah Silverman Podcast in October 2021, Silverman said that “there’s a long tradition of non-Jews playing Jews, playing not just people who happen to be Jewish, but people whose Jewishness is their very being.”
Silverman said that “you could, for example, argue” that a non-Jewish actress “playing Joan Rivers correctly would be doing what is actually called ‘Jewface.’
Controversy erupted in the fall of 2021 when Kathryn Hahn, who is not Jewish, was cast to play the late comic book and talk show host Joan Rivers in a limited series titled The Comeback Girl.
One of the biggest critics of Hahn’s casting was Sarah Silverman – who, in a tongue-in-cheek twist, plays Shirley Bernstein in Maestro alongside Cooper.
Silverman said on the podcast that “Jewface” is defined as when a Gentile portrays a Jew with Jewishness front and center, often with makeup or changing facial features, big fake nose, all New York-y or Yiddish -y bend’
She wondered, “In a time when the importance of representation is so essential and so central, why is ours constantly violated?”
Maestro can be seen in cinemas and on Netflix from December 20.