The M Interview: Bradley Cooper is super at cleaning

With abundant charm, comic timing and good looks, it would have been easy for Bradley Cooper to coast along in his career making raunchy comedies with much success.

But the 40-year-old US actor was not willing to settle for that. He has taken chances that have paid off handsomely and established him as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood.

With three consecutive Oscar nominations in as many years, the highest-grossing movie of 2014 in the US (American Sniper, which he also produced), and coming off an excellently reviewed turn on Broadway and the West End playing The Elephant Man, he is back on the press junket at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills to discuss Joy, his third outing with director David O. Russell and fourth with co-star Jennifer Lawrence.

What was it like working with Lawrence for the fourth time?

She's an incredible power as a human being and as an actor and is a delight to work with. I am lucky... and she's just growing.

The thing about working with David, we have been able to stay sort of like a family, the three of us at least, Bob (Robert De Niro), Jen and myself.

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Life goes on in between the movies and then to come back and work in that environment together and see how we have all grown in different ways, I think that impacts the roles and the work.

I hadn't seen her in a long time and she came to see The Elephant Man and the next thing you know I am in Boston playing this role opposite her and then it just clicks.

Are you familiar with QVC (a home shopping network)? Have you used the Miracle Mop?

I grew up in Philadelphia where QVC was massive.

I remember coming home from school every day and the front door would be just a tiny bit ajar because there would be a QVC package.

So the world was very familiar to me, as was mopping. I grew up doing tons of chores and I remember when the Miracle Mop came and just made life a lot easier. I had it in my dorm room, freshman year when I was at Villanova (University).

Are you good at chores?

I find a tremendously odd amount of satisfaction cleaning things. What's the wood cleaner? Pledge.

That was my favourite thing. I used to fight with my sister which chores we would do because I absolutely hated washing windows and I didn't love vacuuming.

But I loved mopping the basement. It was a red cement floor and when you put water on it, it looked like you were painting it. So it was fun.

You've proven yourself in dramas, comedies and on stage. How have you planned your career?

The truth is, there is no plan, other than I want to grow. I think I am so lucky to be curious and also to absolutely love what I do.

So to work hard is not as hard as if I was working on something I didn't like.

If you told me that when I was going to meet (director) Todd Phillips auditioning for The Hangover that I would wind up being partners with him (on a new production company), it's crazy. So you never know.

Dreams, big dreams, but no plan.