Carey Mulligan talks to Jimmy Kimmel about working in 'Maestro' with Bradley Cooper, recalls Oscar bet
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On the Wednesday, December 13 episode of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', actress Carey Mulligan discussed her role in the film 'Maestro' alongside Bradley Cooper and placing an Oscar bet with husband Marcus Mumford.
The British Academy Film Award winner donned a black dress with sleek blonde hair to kick off an engaging conversation with the late-night host.
Notably, in the biopic, Mulligan plays the role of Felicia Montealegre, the wife of Leonard Bernstein, portrayed by Cooper. The movie follows Bernstein's life and career, showcasing his work as a composer and teacher while married to Montealegre.
Carey Mulligan felt comfortable in '56-year-old body' for the movie
During their conversation, Kimmel pointed out, "Yeah there's a lot of great stuff in the movie and um, and in a way, the movie mirrors somewhat your actual life because you play Felicia who's married to Leonard Bernstein and he is a composer and a conductor she is an actress and both were well-known."
He added, "Same for you, in your real life with Marcus Mumford, right."
The actress addressed the connection, citing moments like watching Mumford perform at Glastonbury, which can be nerve-wracking. Their discussion touched on the experience of being nervous when musicians, particularly someone close, perform, highlighting the nuances of witnessing big musical moments.
Mulligan also discussed the remarkable makeup transformations in the film that span different stages of her character's life, including falling in love and aging to 56.
She reflects on feeling comfortable in her "56-year-old body" due to the makeup work, acknowledging the unique experience it offered.
'The Great Gatsby' actress also disclosed that she was pregnant toward the end of the filming, sharing the challenge of shooting while being unwell, particularly in London.
She even narrated how a doctor looked at her in the get-up of an elderly Montealegre, leading to confusion surrounding the possibility of her being pregnant.
Mulligan and Mumford celebrated the arrival of their first child, daughter Evelyn Grace, in 2015. Subsequently, they welcomed son Wilfred in 2017 and, this year added another member to their family, a baby daughter.
Carey Mulligan recalls placing an Oscar bet with husband Marcus Mumford
Interestingly, Mulligan talked about how her husband, Mumford, whom she had been friends with since childhood before tying the knot in 2012, spilled the beans on a tattoo bet, sparked by the unexpected success of her film 'Promising Young Woman' ahead of the 2021 Academy Awards.
As per PEOPLE Magazine, "It was not supposed to be an awards film," explained Mumford on 'The Late Late Show with James Corden', adding, "It became this anxiety in our household because now there's pressure to get nominated. So, I said, 'Let's make it fun, let's have a tattoo bet."
The terms were if Mulligan didn't receive a nomination, she'd get an Oscar tattoo. However, fate had other plans, and she secured a nomination for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role," leading to Mumford fulfilling his end of the bargain by getting the tattoo.
The conversation flowed, and Kimmel said, "This is a sick idea. He's is a psychotic man you're married to," to which Mulligan replied, "Yeah I know, and then but then the opposite was that if...if I did then he would have."
"So he did," noted the actress, implying that she won the bet.
