Bradley Cooper has revealed getting to work with Jennifer Lawrence for the third time is like "hitting the jackpot".

The pair, who have worked together on David O Russell's films The Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, reunited to play husband and wife George and Serena Pemberton in Serena.

"I've sort of hit the jackpot with being able to work with Jennifer Lawrence. When I knew she was going to play this character, I was fully aware it was going to be comic," he said.

"Once she would breathe life into this character, it would become much more dimensional. It could be very easy to portray her as a stock character and there's just not one moment where you don't believe she's a human being."

Bradley continued: "She's a wonderful, wonderful actress. Her biggest asset is probably her level of relaxation when she acts, and because of that, it's a very thrilling thing to be involved with as the partner of the scene."

Jennifer said their existing friendship made working together easier than ever.

"It's so easy, because a lot of times when you're filming a movie, you're getting to know them at the same time and we've already worked together. We know each other so well so it was so easy to just jump into it," she explained.

Serena, which also stars Rhys Ifans, Sean Harris and Toby Jones, is Susanne Bier's big-screen adaptation of Ron Rash's novel. The film follows the newlywed Pembertons running a timber business in 1930s North Carolina.

Jennifer admitted Bradley's sense of humour comes in useful, saying: "He's hilarious. That always makes the entire process so much easier."

Serena opens in UK cinemas on October 24.