The Star
A Method Actor
A Cooper trademark was his ability to refer to spaces in the film as if they were real, not just sets or nonexistent reference spots just beyond the end of the frame.
A Laconic Type
As an actor, Cooper was famous for understatment, for being a laconic type, possessed of a stillness that was perfect for cinema. Defending him against a director who complained that Cooper wasn't doing anything, Charles Laughton declared, "You don't see it, but the camera does!". Cooper's acting grammar has been analyzed into five basic gestures: evasive yet penetrating glances; a casual lean in the saddle; slight eyebrow movement; a calculated shifting of weight; pursing of the lips.