EVER since they sizzled on screen in A Star Is Born, rumours have flown about Bradley Cooper’s closeness to his co-star Lady Gaga.
After months of speculation, Bradley’s girlfriend Irina Shayk had finally had enough — and last week it emerged the pair had split.
Today we can reveal how their relationship crumbled amid mounting speculation over Bradley and the pop singer.
While they battled for six months to save the relationship, Bradley’s work commitments clashed with the Russian model’s desire for a settled family life with their two-year-old daughter Lea.
In a rare interview before their split, Irina, 33, tellingly said: “I make time for the people I love and care about — family, friends, whoever it might be.
“I agree work is important but I also believe you must have balance and enjoy life. In the end, that’s what it’s all about.”
Today, a confidante of the couple gives The Sun on Sunday the inside story of how their four-year romance ended in tears.
Irina met the 44-year-old actor and director in 2015, months after breaking up with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
They had been together for five years, during which time the Juventus star was rumoured to have had a string of affairs.
Her confidante told us: “From the outset, Irina loved the privacy she had with Brad.
“For months Brad and Irina managed to keep their dating a secret. It was fantastic for her after living a very public life with Cristiano.
“She and Brad found lots of time for each other, even though both were working a lot as she travelled the world modelling and he spent long periods on film sets.”
They made a series of public appearances together, at events including Wimbledon and the US fashion trade’s Met Ball.
In November 2015, Bradley moved into Irina’s New York apartment, and in 2017 she gave birth to their daughter.
And while fans clamoured to know more, Irina insisted she wanted to keep her personal life private.
She said: “I have a lot of friends who share a lot of their personal life on Instagram or social media, very publicly. I admire it, it’s great, but it’s all about personal choice.
“Because my work requires me to be out there, I just decided my personal life will be quiet.
“That’s why it’s called ‘personal’ — because it’s something for you and your family. I feel happy with it.”
Around this time, Bradley was filming A Star Is Born, his debut as a movie director, in which he and singer Lady Gaga play lovers. The project kept him away from home.
A source said: “Irina’s life was focused on family and Bradley has always worked hard. It was a hard two years for both of them.
“There was lots of effort put into trying to make it work and lots of discussions and chats but Bradley’s work meant they would not be together all the time. He wasn’t at home as much as he’d have liked.”
Bradley — worth an estimated £78million — spent much of last year promoting the film, which was a critical and commercial triumph, earning nominations for eight Academy Awards.
A charged stage performance by its two leads at the Oscars in February sparked speculation they were more than just friends and colleagues.
Though Irina did not believe Bradley had cheated, the pressure of speculation rocked their relationship.
Irina put on a brave face but was “hugely embarrassed” by the insinuations.
Her friend said: “Irina is not the jealous type and Lady Gaga was someone she thought she got on with. She still doesn’t think anything went on.
“The main thing was she enjoyed having an anonymous relationship which was very private. But after the film it became less so.”
Bradley — who has previously been linked to actresses Suki Waterhouse, 27, Cameron Diaz, 46, and Jennifer Aniston, 50 — took months off work in a bid to heal their relationship.
But last Thursday, it was all over after Irina was seen leaving Bradley’s mansion carrying suitcases. That news came just days after Lady Gaga broke off her engagement to talent agent Christian Carino, 50.
To add even more intrigue, Christian “liked” a bikini snap of Irina on Instagram this week. Our source said: “Irina tried hard to make it work — they both did. But it ended for the better.
She might well go back to living in Bradley’s LA home eventually to look after their daughter. They are remaining civil for her.”
Whatever happens, Irina will continue to work, having amassed millions as one of the world’s most in-demand models.
Talking about life as a mum, she said: “In this modern world, I really believe that if you have a baby, it doesn’t mean you have to wear longer dresses. One of my friends said, ‘Oh, you just posted a sexy picture. You’re a mum now’.
“I just said, ‘So what?’ It’s about who you are. You have to stick to your thing. I don’t believe anyone should have to change just because they’re a mother. I’m still me.”
APRIL 22, 2015: The pair are spotted together for the first time, in New York – three months after Irina’s split from Cristiano Ronaldo, inset, and just a month after Bradley and Suki Waterhouse broke up.
MAY 5: Hollywood debut as a couple at the Met Gala, seen kissing at Rihanna’s after-party.
SEPT 14: Spotted on holiday on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
JAN 21, 2016: Seen house-hunting in New York.
MARCH 9: Pair quash split rumours by appearing on red carpet at a fashion do in Paris.
JULY 10: Seen out publicly for the first time in four months at Wimbledon. Irina looks tearful but pals blame it on allergies.
AUG 16: Lady Gaga, newly single, is cast in A Star Is Born. She and Bradley are spotted buying groceries together, sending the rumour mill into overdrive.
NOV 30: Irina announces her pregnancy.
MARCH 21, 2017: Bradley and Irina become parents, as their daughter Lea is born.
MAY 5, 2018: Irina is spotted wearing an engagement ring.
FEB 24, 2019: Bradley and Gaga sing Shallow at the Oscars and Twitter goes into meltdown.
MAY 6: Irina attends the Met Gala alone.
JUNE 6: The couple break up. Irina is seen leaving their home with cases.
Irina shot to fame in 2011 after appearing on the front cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. She said: “I work out every day and avoid exercises that make my body too muscular. I focus on running, boxing, cycling and Pilates.
“You have to love your body, respect it and treat it well. I spend time doing cardio because it makes me feel good.
“I believe in eating what I like and sweating it out in the gym.”
Irina has a soft spot for chicken nuggets and when she returns to see her mother Olga in Russia each month, the model takes a packed meal on the plane.
She said: “I love to travel with food. I don’t like plane food, so I always pack a snack, like a salmon sandwich.”
Her childhood in Russia was not perfect and Irina admits she thought she was ugly. She said: “I wasn’t that confident. As a teenager, you feel ugly — but it’s a learning process. Every human being should go through it to really find out who they are.
“In any case, it’s good because you really discover your personality. You really discover what you want.
“Even if sometimes you are surrounded by people who try to put you down and say you cannot do it, that’s good, too, because maybe you want to show them you can do it.
“Things come into your life for a reason and it’s always a good reason at the end of the day.”
Irina now describes herself as “strong, confident and outgoing” and “a woman who enjoys life”. Her role model is actress and campaigner Angelina Jolie, 44.
Irina said: “Angelina is a very strong woman and does many important things — charity, as well as other projects.
“I would definitely like to invite her to dinner at my house.” After Angelina’s very own public split from a Hollywood star — ex-husband Brad Pitt — in 2016, they would have lots to talk about.
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