Bradley Cooper Shares Rare Insight Into Bond With 8-Year-Old Daughter Lea
Irina Shayk wants her daughter to find the silver lining amid fame.
The Sports Illustrated swimsuit model explained how she and ex Bradley Cooper help their daughter Lea “feel comfortable” around their celebrity status, noting that the 8-year-old “clearly understands” their public-facing jobs.
"She has very, very little digital access, almost down to none," Irina told People in an interview published Nov. 17. Instead, the 39-year-old said she and Bradley focus on "building community, friends and just giving love."
She added, "This is the best thing that you could give to your kid, raising them in a loving family."
Plus, Irina is aware that her job gives her a unique perspective that can help temper some of Lea’s worldviews.
"There are so many beauty standards out there,” she continued, “that of course I try to protect my daughter from."
And part of Irina and Bradley’s approach to acclimating their daughter to Hollywood is by including her in their work. In fact, when it comes to the process of making a movie, the Maestro actor-director shared that Lea is “part of it.”
"There's nothing weird about it," Bradley told E! News last month. "It's just a part of what we do, and it's kind of a nice thing. She cares so much about it."
Indeed, Lea is not afraid to share her thoughts with her dad.
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock (2)
"Kids, they say exactly what they think, and she has a big opinion about everything," Bradley—who began dating Gigi Hadid in 2023—continued. "I love it and I care what she thinks. Even with casting, we'll look at casting auditions together."
For her part, Irina matches her ex’s mindset on taking Lea “everywhere” and having her be part of both their personal and professional lives, even when her and Bradley’s schedules are packed.
“We always find a way,” she told Elle in 2023. She also noted of Bradley, “He’s the best father Lea and I could dream of. It always works, but it always works because we make it work.”
Read on to look back at Irina and Bradley’s cutest pics with Lea.
Irina Shayk/Instagram
Beach Babes
Among the pleasures that model Irina Shayk shared she was in love with in an October 2024 Instagram post: Time spent on the beach, sunflowers, pumpkins and Lea de Seine, the 7-year-old she shares with former boyfriend Bradley Cooper.
Irina Shayk/Instagram
Wild Child
"Watch out for KITTY CATSSS," the runway regular declared in a June 2024 post, sharing a slew of feline-themed throwbacks of her little girl.
Irina Shayk/Instagram
The Cat's Meow
In the same carousel of photos, Irina included this snap of Lea leaning into her wild side. And the Victoria's Secret model has shared that her little one is the purrfect companion.
She and Bradley "both take Lea everywhere with us," she declared to Elle in 2023. "She's super easy.” Among their outings: A fitting with Michael Kors. Lea left with a goody bag from the designer and in return, shared Irina, "She drew him a kitty cat."
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
A Star Is Born
After making a cameo in Dad's Oscar-nominated 2023 biopic Maestro (Bradley co-wrote, starred in, directed and produced the movie), Lea made her red carpet debut at the L.A. premiere that December.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Another Look
"She was great,” Bradley gushed of his daughter's performance. “She was really awesome.”
Bradley's Muse
Though Irina didn't attend the L.A. premiere, she did provide her Instagram followers with this glimpse of a private screening. Unsurprisingly, Bradley named his production company after his pride and joy. "He's the best father Lea and I could dream of," Irina told Elle. "It always works, but it always works because we make it work."
Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP
Dad's Plus One
Bradley credits his daughter (who joined him to watch A Star is Born costar Dave Chappelle receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center in 2019) with making him a better man.
"I want her to have as much foundation as she can—I think about how my relationship with my daughter impacts her growth and the journey she's gonna be on," he said on a February 2024 episode of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd. "The least amount of damage I can do to my daughter—please let me work on myself."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

2 hours ago
2
English (US)