Controversial new biopic Maestro, which explores the life of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, opens in cinemas across the UK on Friday before airing on Netflix on Wednesday, December 20.
Bradley Cooper – who plays Bernstein – has been heavily criticized for wearing a prosthetic nose in the new film, with critics claiming it was anti-Semitic.
However, Leonard Bernstein’s family defended Bradley’s choice to wear the prosthetic, saying in a statement: “It’s true he had a nice big nose.”
Who else will appear in the film besides Bradley Cooper? Who were the other real protagonists in the film?
Read on below for everything you need to know about the Maestro cast.
Bradley Cooper (far left) and Carey Mulligan (second from left) play Leonard Bernstein (far right) and his wife Felicia Montealegre (second from right) in the new Netflix film Maestro
Who is in the Maestro cast?
Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein
Maestro will focus on Bernstein’s relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre, throughout the couple’s lives
Legendary composer Bernstein is perhaps best known for creating the music for Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story with lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
At the same time he worked with Lillian Hellman on the musical ‘Candide’.
Maestro will focus on Bernstein’s relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre, throughout the couple’s lives.
Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre
Montealegre appeared in several on-screen plays and dramas, including a 1945 CBS teleplay based on Somerset Maugham’s novel Of Human Bondage, in which she starred as Mildred.
Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre was born on March 3, 1922 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
She appeared in several on-screen plays and dramas, including a 1945 CBS teleplay based on Somerset Maugham’s novel Of Human Bondage, in which she starred as Mildred.
The Costa Rican cemented a stellar television career, appearing in ten shows in 1949 alone.
Her best-known screen performances include a role as Mildred Rodgers in an adaptation of Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage.
Felicia, who married Leonard Bernstein in 1951, also appeared in major roles on Broadway and in summer festival playhouses, including Jessica in The Merchant of Venice, The Death of Rasputin, Emma Woodhouse in Emma and many more.
Sarah Silverman as Shirley Bernstein
Comedian Sarah Silverman plays Leonard’s sister, Shirley Bernstein, who was born in 1923 and died in 1998 at age 74, eight years after Leonard’s death in 1990
Comedian Sarah Silverman plays Leonard’s sister, Shirley Bernstein, who was born in 1923 and died in 1998 at age 74, eight years after Leonard’s death in 1990.
Shirley was a producer who worked on several TV shows including The Big Surprise, Down You Go and The Young Set.
She was associate producer of “The Third Secret,” a thriller starring Stephen Boyd, Richard Attenborough and Jack Hawkins.
Maya Hawke as Jamie Bernstein
Maya Hawke plays another famous face in the Bernstein family, Jamie, an author and filmmaker who was inspired by her father’s music growing up
Another famous face in the Bernstein family, Jamie is an author and filmmaker who was inspired by her father’s music growing up.
Jamie, 71, has narrated countless orchestral performances around the world.
She has also written a memoir about her father, titled Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein, which was published in 2018.
She also expressed her regret that Leonard could not see West Side Story.
Bernstein said she wishes her father could have seen the film and met director Steven Spielberg “because they have a lot in common.” They are both incredibly warm-hearted people.”
“They love to reach out, communicate and make connections, and they really are peas in a pod,” she said Classic FM.
“How I wish my dad was around to see this movie, hear this movie and hear what his music sounds like in it,” Jamie added.
Michael Urie as Jerome Robbins
‘West Side Story’ creator and actor Jerome Robbins is played by Michael Urie (pictured)
“West Side Story” creator and actor Jerome Robbins is played by Michael Urie. Robbins also produced “Gypsy,” “Peter Pan” and “Fiddler on the Roof” over the years.
His work in the film industry won him the 1961 Academy Award for Best Director for the adaptation of “West Side Story.”
He continued to produce theatrical productions until shortly before his death in 1998, with ‘Les Noches’ being his last show.