Irina Shayk on Co-Parenting Lea With Bradley Cooper: ‘He’s the Best Father’
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk may have ended their romantic relationship in 2019, but their relationship co-parenting their 6-year-old daughter Lea de Seine is still going strong. Shayk had glowing things to say about Cooper as a parent in her ELLE cover story interview. Both came from “normal backgrounds,” she said, and want to give Lea as normal a childhood as possible.
Despite both of them focusing on their careers—modeling for Shayk and acting for Cooper—which can require travel, they are hands-on with Lea. Neither employs a nanny, both are based in New York City, and they walk Lea to school.
Even with their busy schedules, “we always find a way,” Shayk said. She opted not to share too much more about their relationship, but offered this praise of Cooper: “He’s the best father Lea and I could dream of. It always works, but it always works because we make it work.”
She spoke a little more about her daughter, revealing that the two speak to each other in Russian, their “secret language.” Compared to Shayk’s own more humble upbringing in Russia, “Looking at my daughter now, she’s growing up in a completely different environment,” Shayk said. “She lives in the West Village. She went to all these countries in two months. But we want her to know the value of stuff. We want to show our daughter, ‘You have to work hard to get something.’”
Shayk added that she will remind Lea that her career is what gives them the life they have. When Lea complains about Shayk traveling for work, for example, Shayk reminds her, “You want to go on vacation, right? You want to go shopping? So I’m going to London. You’re going to be with Daddy, because Mama has to work.”
Shayk also shared that she doesn’t think women should have to change their clothing or behavior just because they have children. “I’m still the same person,” she said.
Regarding the social media criticism that generally comes with being a public figure, she admitted plainly that she is unbothered. “That’s what you get,” she said. “Not everybody is going to like you. And I don’t want everyone to like me. I am who I am. I’m not going to change because somebody who has nothing to do in their life is saying some bullshit about me or how I dress or how I’m parenting. No, get your life together.”
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.