Bradley Cooper Shares His Transformation for 'American Sniper' Putting on 40 Lbs

Bradley Cooper has outdone himself for his role as Chris Kyle in the critically acclaimed biopic American Sniper.

Cooper reportedly took on 40 pounds of pure muscle just so he could get into shape to portray the Navy Seal in the film with justice. According to Sienna Miller, who plays Cooper's onscreen wife, shares that there was an awkward phase prior to that transformation "We did Skype and I did see him grow. He went through a chubby phase before he got really strong," quotes USA Today.

USA Today also quotes Cooper's own insight about the transformation. "Once I put that weight on and I could feel comfortable talking like him - that was very fascinating. His register was higher than mine. That was just to get to the place where I could start doing the work. There's no way I'd ever be able to believe I was him without doing that." He also adds on how it was difficult losing the weight he gained from getting into Kyle's character. "I just lost (the last of it) it in the past four weeks. I lost 20 pounds fast and I couldn't lose the last 15. I love to eat."

Cooper accompanied Kyle's widow, Taya, down the red carpet during the film's intimate screening at the Navy Memorial where it received a standing ovation from its audience of veterans, Congress members and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden.

Cooper shared that he hoped that the film will help people going through emotional trauma such as this to know that they are not alone. "We just tried to get Chris's story right," People quotes Cooper. "These people represent one percent of the population. There's 99 percent of the population that has no idea what it's like to be a soldier, to give up your life for your country. And we need to take care of our vets." He also added a bit of a call to action for his fellow American citizens. "And for those of us who have no idea what it's about, maybe we'll stop and take a second look next time a vet passes us in the airport. And not just say, 'Thank you for your service,' even though that's a wonderful thing to say. But actually take it a step further and take action, whatever that would be. Babysitting their children, helping them with their groceries, whatever it is." 

American Sniper is directed by Clint Eastwood and it is based off the book written by Chris Kyle himself entitled, "American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in American History". Kyle died in 2013 where he was murdered a fellow Seal suffering from PTSD.