Bradley Cooperhas a secret admirer —Will Smith!At the 2022 National Board of Review gala, held at New York City’s Cipriani 42nd Street on Tuesday, Smith was honored with the best actor award forKing Richard. Trevor Noah presented the award to Smith, praising him for helping people “feel” over the course of his career.In his acceptance speech, Smith, 53, told the crowd, “We all have that thing in us. We have a dream and it seems crazy, the thing that you want to do.“Signaling Cooper, 47, seated at a table in the audience, Smith then joked, “I look atBradley Cooper. I’ve seen pictures of him when he was young — he didn’t look like this! He grew into that. He let the dream blossom inside of him. I can’t even concentrate, he’s so beautiful.“Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of ReviewNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.When Cooper took the podium later in the ceremony to present an award to hisLicorice Pizzacostars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, he responded to Smith’s compliments with a smile: “I’m not gonna forget that, Will.“Will Smith.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for National Board of ReviewOn the red carpet prior to the event, Smith told PEOPLE what has been the biggest surprise for him about this awards season.“I guess the biggest surprise so far for me with this film is how unanimous the reaction is to the film,” he said. “I’ve made 30 years' worth of movies and there’s never been this kind of blanket agreement that it’s a good movie. I’ve made things that, I would read opposing reviews and I’m like, ‘Did they even look at the same movie?’ you know, withAliand withThe Pursuit of Happyness. Just how many people agree that it’s a good movie is a big surprise for me.“Smith is nominated for Best Actor at the upcoming 94th Academy Awards. He’s already won a SAG Award, BAFTA and Critics Choice Award for his performance.
Bradley Cooperhas a secret admirer —Will Smith!
At the 2022 National Board of Review gala, held at New York City’s Cipriani 42nd Street on Tuesday, Smith was honored with the best actor award forKing Richard. Trevor Noah presented the award to Smith, praising him for helping people “feel” over the course of his career.
In his acceptance speech, Smith, 53, told the crowd, “We all have that thing in us. We have a dream and it seems crazy, the thing that you want to do.”
Signaling Cooper, 47, seated at a table in the audience, Smith then joked, “I look atBradley Cooper. I’ve seen pictures of him when he was young — he didn’t look like this! He grew into that. He let the dream blossom inside of him. I can’t even concentrate, he’s so beautiful.”
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of Review
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
When Cooper took the podium later in the ceremony to present an award to hisLicorice Pizzacostars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, he responded to Smith’s compliments with a smile: “I’m not gonna forget that, Will.”
Will Smith.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for National Board of Review
On the red carpet prior to the event, Smith told PEOPLE what has been the biggest surprise for him about this awards season.
“I guess the biggest surprise so far for me with this film is how unanimous the reaction is to the film,” he said. “I’ve made 30 years' worth of movies and there’s never been this kind of blanket agreement that it’s a good movie. I’ve made things that, I would read opposing reviews and I’m like, ‘Did they even look at the same movie?’ you know, withAliand withThe Pursuit of Happyness. Just how many people agree that it’s a good movie is a big surprise for me.”
Smith is nominated for Best Actor at the upcoming 94th Academy Awards. He’s already won a SAG Award, BAFTA and Critics Choice Award for his performance.
source: people.com
