Bradley Cooper Shirtless and Pasty On the Cover of W

Photos from W magazine.

Bradley Cooper—who turned 40 today—gets the arty treatment on the cover of the January issue of W magazine, which is an homage to 39 actors dubbed the Best Performers of 2015. The photo finds him shirtless, his hair’s slicked back, and he’s really pasty. On the inside spread, he looks to be butt naked, covered only by a suit that could have been worn by John Travolta in Stayin’ Alive, and standing next to a pair of chunky platform shoes. W explains the concept behind the photo:

The photographer Tim Walker was influenced by the colorful, sun-drenched Los Angeles paintings and photographs of David Hockney, as well as the ’70s free-love aesthetic that informs the artist’s work. From there, the photographic scenarios took cues from Federico Fellini and, naturally, Walker’s own unique perspective. Remarkably, all the actors and actresses were excited to play, to be transformed, to embrace personae that were extreme, odd, and truly fascinating. Perhaps therein lies a message for Hollywood: History is safe, but surprise is thrilling. In 2015, please give these actors new worlds to conquer.

Some of the other stars in the issue include Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone, and Benedict Cumberbatch. See their oddball photo spreads here.