Bradley Cooper Talks Broadway's THE ELEPHANT MAN on Today's CBS Sunday Morning

Actor Bradley Cooper, once dubbed the sexiest man alive by People magazine, calls playing a severely deformed man in Broadway's "The Elephant Man" a dream come true. Cooper's interview with Serena Altschul will be broadcast today, Nov. 2, 2014 (9:00 AM ET) on the CBS Television Network.

Watch a clip from the appearance here.

Cooper talks with Altschul during rehearsals for the Nov. 7, 2014 opening. The Broadway production is based on the true story of a deformed London man named Joseph Merrick, who was put on display in a freak show as "The Elephant Man."

"There's something about this guy's spirit that is connected with people and it connected with me in a pretty profound way," Cooper tells Altschul.

The Broadway production is the latest in a long connection Cooper has had with "The Elephant Man." When he was a child, Cooper, now 39, saw the 1980 film, "The Elephant Man" with his father. He says he knew then he wanted to be an actor. He even used Merrick as the subject of his master's thesis in drama school.

In 2012, Cooper took on the role of Merrick at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, but he was dreaming of an even bigger stage.

"I'm someone who thinks big," Cooper says. "I never thought I'd be able to do 'The Elephant Man' on Broadway.

Playing the part isn't easy. For each performance, Cooper contorts his body to resemble Merrick's deformities.

"It's exhausting, but I love him so much," Cooper says of playing Merrick. "I have to say it feels like such an honor. I know that sounds cheesy, but every day I do feel lighter afterwards."
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Bernard Pomerance's Tony Award-winning classic, The Elephant Man marks the Broadway return of two-time Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper. It also stars Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winnerPatricia Clarkson, and Alessandro Nivola. The production is directed by six-time Tony Award nominee Scott Ellisand begins performances on Friday, November 7, 2014 and opens on Sunday, December 7, 2014 at Broadway's Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street, NYC). This is a limited engagement through Sunday, February 15. Tickets are on sale now.

The cast features Bradley Cooper as John Merrick, Patricia Clarkson as Mrs. Kendal, Alessandro Nivola as Dr. Frederick Treves, Anthony Heald as Ross / Bishop Walsham How, Scott Lowell as Snork / Pinhead Manager / Lord John, Kathryn Meisle as Miss Sandwich / Princess and Henry Stram as Carr Gomm / Conductor. The cast will also include Chris Bannow, Peter Bradbury, Lucas Calhoun, Eric Clem, Amanda Lea Mason, Marguerite Stimpsonand Emma Thorne.

This production, also starring Mr. Cooper, Ms. Clarkson and Mr. Nivola under the direction of Mr. Ellis, was first produced and presented in July 2012 in Williamstown, Massachusetts by the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Jenny Gersten, Artistic Director.