Bradley Cooper is opening up about how his 6-year-old daughter, Lea, changed his life.

Honestly, Im not sure Id be alive if I wasnt a dad, the Maestro actor and director said on Mondays episode of Armchair Expert podcast. I dont know.

I just needed someone to say, Were gonna drop this massive anchor, Cooper said, giving an example of what becoming a dad felt like to him. And Im like, Why? Were speeding. I just got an upgrade on the boat, and I know where the wind is coming in. And theyre like, No no no, theres a tsunami coming, and you need an anchor, and were gonna drop it. [Because] this is going to dictate everything you do from now on.

Your DNA is going to tell you that theres something more important than you, Cooper added.