Band of Brothers was one of the most critically acclaimed war drama series that depicted World War II on television, and while this accomplishment meant so much for the creators, some of its cast members were not completely thrilled with their experience.
The show may have been incredible to watch on screen, but the behind-the-scenes was indeed rigorous and extremely draining. One particular actor even thought he would be out of work forever.
Dominic Cooper Feared for His Acting Career After Starring in Band of Brothers
In an interview with The Guardian, Dominic Cooper shared his experience on the set of 2001’s Band of Brothers. He played the minor character Allington, but he recalled how much it took a toll on his well-being. “I’d never been on a film set and I was terrified,” he confessed.
The English star, best known for playing Jesse Custer on the AMC show Preacher, said that the production for the series was full of young male actors competing with each other, which only made him feel dejected.
At the time, he didn’t have enough experience acting on camera. When he found himself starring in one of the biggest TV shows in Hollywood, it somehow affected him on a deeply personal level. “It was all to do with my own insecurities,” he admitted.
The show featured the story of the survivors of the Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. This masterpiece by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks was dominated by actors portraying veteran soldiers, and Cooper found the production rife with “camaraderie, competition, and masculinity at its highest level.”
He admitted he wasn’t ready for this huge undertaking. Although the Dracula Untold actor stressed that it was an incredible project, it still could have damaged his career as he felt it was not the right role for him. Thankfully, Cooper recovered quickly and found his true big break when he starred in The History Boys (2006) and Mamma Mia! (2008).
Three years later, he debuted in the MCU as Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Cooper reprised the role in Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter (2013) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and then had a more pivotal story in the Agent Carter TV series (2015).
What’s Keeping Dominic Cooper Busy These Days
Cooper is currently fully booked as he works on new projects. In August last year, it was announced that he would be leading the upcoming Irish-Canadian romantic drama film Cry from the Sea. The movie remains in production and is yet to receive a release date.
Early this year, he was tapped to join Apple TV+’s upcoming drama series The Last Frontier. Filming began in February and wrapped up in October. The show has yet to receive a premiere date.
It seems like Band of Brothers was just a stepping stone for Cooper as he continues to maintain a productive career over the years.
Band of Brothers is currently available to watch on HBO.
