Christian Bale
Date of birth
30th January, 1974
Occupation
Actor
Sex
Male
Height
1.83
Christian Bale (born 30.1.1974)
Christian Bale is a British actor. His biggest role to date has been as the lead in two Batman films.
Childhood: Christian Bale was born in Wales, but spent parts of his childhood in England, Portugal and the USA. When he was a child, his mother Jenny worked in the circus, riding elephants.
Christian learned ballet and guitar as a child and was inspired by his sister's work in the theatre to pursue acting. In 1982, Bale was given a role in a Lenor advert and later appeared in an advert for Pac-Man cereal. In 1984, Bale made his stage debut alongside Rowan Atkinson in a production of The Nerd.
Acting Career: Christian Bale's film debut was in the TV movie Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna. His co-star, Amy Irving, was married to Steven Spielberg and she recommended Bale to her husband for a role in Empire of the Sun, Spielberg's adaptation of J.G. Ballard's semi-autobiographical novel.
Bale's performance in Empire of the Sun brought him a great deal of attention - not all of it welcome. For a while, Christian considered giving up acting. In 1989, Bale was approached by Kenneth Branagh to appear in Henry V, an offer that he accepted. He then went on to star in Treasure Island, opposite Charlton Heston, in 1990.
Four years later, Winona Ryder chose Bale to star in Little Women. His other notable film roles of the 1990s include voicing the character of Thomas in Pocahontas, playing Arthur Stuart in Velvet Goldmine, the Todd Haynes glam rock tribute and working alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Everett in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1999.
Christian Bale's breakthrough came in 1999, when he was awarded the role of Patrick Bateman in Mary Harron's adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho. Bale's preparation for the role was intensive; he trained extensively to achieve an athletic physique and refrained from socializing with the crew, to retain the psychopathic side of Bateman's character.
Following the success of American Psycho, Bale went on to undertake a varied range of characters. He played a Greek fisherman alongside Penelope Cruz and Nicholas Cage in Captain Correlli's Mandolin. In 2002, he starred alongside Frances McDormand in Laurel Canyon.
Bale undertook his role in Reign of Fire, with some trepidation. The film was the first action movie that he had appeared in. His concerns were soon to be realised, when the film was a flop. Shortly after the release of Reign of Fire, Bale appeared in Equilibrium. This film was also a commercial failure but went on to become something of a cult classic.
In 2004, Christian Bale starred as Trevor Reznik in The Machinist. For the role, he went on a crash diet consisting mainly of coffee and apples. By the time he finished filming the movie, he weighed only 55kg, achieving a shocking skeletal look for the insomniac paranoid character of Reznik.
Christian Bale's next major career move came when he was cast as Batman in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, a new extension of the Batman franchise that was a move away from previous efforts by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher. Coming straight from filming The Machinist, Bale was given six months to gain 46 kg. Bale later returned as Batman for the 2008 release of The Dark Knight. The film grossed over $400 million within 16 days of its release.
Returning to independent films, Bale starred in Harsh Times alongside Eva Longoria and Freddy Rodriguez. In the film, he plays a veteran of the Afghanistan war, suffering with post-traumatic stress syndrome.
2006 was a busy year for Christian Bale. Firstly, he starred in Rescue Dawn, by Werner Herzog, then in The Prestige and I'm Not There (a reflection on the life of Bob Dylan), as well as the remake of 3:10 to Yuma, alongside Russell Crowe.
Personal Life: Christian Bale married Sandra Blazic in 2000 and the pair have a daughter Emmeline (b.2005)
In July 2008, Bale was arrested for a verbal assault on his mother and his sister Sharon. He was released without charge.
Kevin Conroy Thought Christian Bale's Batman Voice Was "Weird"
By Daniel Falconer in Movies / TV / Theatre on 29 May 2018
Kevin Conroy loves Christian Bale's acting as Batman, but not his voice.
Anybody who has ever watched a Batman animated series or movie has probably heard the work of veteran voice actor Kevin Conroy, who has tackled the role for a number of decades. As the definitive voice of the Caped Crusader, he's often asked to pass judgement on others who have stepped into the mantle of the World's Greatest Detective, and that happened again this past weekend.
Though he's somebody who's now been watched by millions in the role of the World's Greatest Detective, one man who hasn't yet managed to settle down and watch Affleck as Bats is Bale himself. Some may think that it's a case of Bale moving on, and whilst the actor does admit he's not a huge fan of the superhero genre, he does want to eventually watch his successor.
Continue reading: Christian Bale Hasn't Yet Seen Ben Affleck's Batman
Christian Bale Makes Another Shocking Transformation For Dick Cheney Role
By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 14 November 2017
He gains several pounds to play the former Vice President.
Christian Bale is well known for being a chameleon of the acting world, and indeed he has once again transformed himself to the point of being unrecognisable for his forthcoming role as former Vice President Dick Cheney in the film 'Backseat' directed and written by Adam McKay.
The 43-year-old has no doubt compromised his overall physical health by piling on the pounds to play Dick Cheney; a man widely known as the most powerful Vice President in US history. He's also shaved his head, giving his face an overall very aged and bloated look. It's a far cry from his 'Dark Knight' days.
Continue reading: Christian Bale Makes Another Shocking Transformation For Dick Cheney Role
The Promise Review
Very Good
The director of Hotel Rwanda, Terry George, turns to another humanitarian horror: the systematic murder of 1.5 million Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians by the Turkish government between 1915 and 1923. Turkey has long denied that this took place, so the filmmakers take a rather soft approach to the story, setting out a romantic plotline with the genocide as a backdrop. So the resulting drama is somewhat uneven, but the events are so powerful that the film can't be ignored.
It opens in 1915 as the Ottoman Empire is collapsing. Mikael (Oscar Isaac) is a young Armenian studying medicine in Constantinople with a promised fiancee Maral (Angela Sarafyan) back home. Even so, he falls for Ana (Charlotte Le Bon), who shares his rural Armenian background. But she has a boyfriend, Chris (Christian Bale), who is investigating rumours of war as the Germans arrive to help the Turkish government round up its ethnic minorities. Mikael is soon arrested, but escapes from the work camp to return to his parents (Shohreh Aghdashloo and Kevork Malikyan) and Maral. Meanwhile, Chris and Ana are trying to report the story of what's really happening, and Mikael joins them to help a group of orphan refugees.
Yes, this is a sweeping epic in which there's a lot going on, and it's filmed on a lavish scale. The characters' lives continually intersect throughout the story, and the intensity of the wartime atrocities is seriously powerful. On the other hand, this makes the four-sided romance feel like a melodramatic distraction. The actors are solid, but the earnest tone undermines any real emotional edge. Isaac is sincere and decent, Le Bon is strong and wilful, Bale is solid and cynical, and Sarafyan is lost in the shuffle. Aghdashloo, as always, provides wrenching support.
Continue reading: The Promise Review
Heath Ledger's Sister Denies Claims Her Brother Was Depressed Playing The Joker
By Charlotte Court in Movies / TV / Theatre on 25 April 2017
The Batman: The Dark Knight actor tragically died from an overdose in 2008
Heath Ledger’s sister has come out to deny claims her brother was depressed while playing the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s Batman: The Dark Knight - a role he had finished working on only a few months before he tragically died.
The Australian actor died of an accidental overdose on prescription drugs on 22 January, 2008 aged 28 but his older sister, Kate, has refuted claims the actor suffered difficulties sleeping and other mental health issues while playing the DC comic book character role.
Continue reading: Heath Ledger's Sister Denies Claims Her Brother Was Depressed Playing The Joker
From Jim Caviezel And Christian Bale To Will Ferrell: 7 Actors Who Have Played Jesus
By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 27 March 2016
Jesus has had many faces on the big screen, with some more memorable than others.
The story of Jesus has been told many different times on the big screen, with a wide variety of interpretations. But what’s more diverse is the list of actors who have found themselves playing the son of God. Sure we all remember Jim Caviezel in The Passion of the Christ, but did you know Will Ferrell also once donned a wig and a beard to play Jesus?
Jim Caviezel
Continue reading: From Jim Caviezel And Christian Bale To Will Ferrell: 7 Actors Who Have Played Jesus
Christian Bale , Emmeline Bale - Christian Bale and family arrive on a flight to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - Los Angeles, California, United States - Wednesday 21st October 2015
Michael Fassbender Thinks Christian Bale Would Have Made A 'Perfect' Steve Jobs
By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 05 October 2015
Fassbender scored the role of Jobs after Bale left the project last year.
Michael Fassbender has admitted he thinks Christian Bale would have been ‘perfect’ to play Steve Jobs in Danny Boyle’s biopic of the late Apple founder. Bale was originally signed on to the project but left last November, with Fassbender then being brought in as his replacement.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter Fassbender said, "I thought to myself: Christian Bale is perfect, why isn’t he doing it? I actually called him up and told him that myself.”
Continue reading: Michael Fassbender Thinks Christian Bale Would Have Made A 'Perfect' Steve Jobs
The Big Short Trailer
When Dr. Michael Burry discovered that the housing market in the US relied upon a series of bad loans in 2005, he knew there was profit to be had. He even went as far as moving on from his multi-million dollar Scion Capital LLC hedge fund in a bid to short the market and take advantage of the vulnerable housing deals. But he wasn't the only one with plans to accrue wealth off the back of financial disaster; Steve Eisman was a hedge fund manager who had a lot to say against the greedy banks, as did Cornwall Capital partner Ben Hockett and Deutsche Bank trader Greg Lippmann. These are financial outsiders that are about to show the banks a serious lesson when they use their economic skills to bring them down with a brave move in the credit default swap market.
Continue: The Big Short Trailer
Christian Bale , Joseph Bale - Christian Bale arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with his son Joseph Bale - Los Angeles, California, United States - Friday 31st July 2015
As Jurassic World Sequel Gets Dated, A Look Back At Five Dodgy Film Follow-Ups
By Gary Roberts in Movies / TV / Theatre on 24 July 2015
With fans already getting excited about the 2018-dated 'Jurassic World' sequel, we remember five movie follow-ups that should never have been made.
Not all sequels are terrible - Toy Story, The Bourne Identity and Batman Begins all received excellent second (and third) instalments, for example - but sometimes a disastrous sequel comes along that nobody was asking for. Here are five of the worst.
1. Teen Wolf Too (1987)
Continue reading: As Jurassic World Sequel Gets Dated, A Look Back At Five Dodgy Film Follow-Ups
Frank Miller Revisiting Batman With Second 'Dark Knight' Sequel
By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 25 April 2015
‘The Dark Knight III: The Master Race’ will hit shelves this Fall.
Frank Miller is going back to Batman. DC have announced that the man behind 1986 classic The Dark Knight Returns is writing a second sequel to his seminal work titled The Dark Knight III: The Master Race, to mark the 30th anniversary of the original series.
Miller will not be working alone on the miniseries and he will be joined by 100 Bulllets and Wonder Woman writer Brian Azzarello. The series is said to consist of eight issues and will be published twice a month, according to a press release by DC.
Continue reading: Frank Miller Revisiting Batman With Second 'Dark Knight' Sequel
Christian Bale - The cast of 'American Hustle' filming scenes on location in Manhattan - New York City, NY, United States - Friday 17th May 2013
Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale and Amy Adams - The 1970s-set true story of a con artist and his partner in crime, who were forced to work with a federal agent to turn the tables on other cons, mobsters, and politicians - namely, the volatile mayor of impoverished Camden, New Jersey. - Woburn , Massachusetts , United States - Tuesday 9th April 2013
Christian Bale Wednesday 18th July 2012 The European Premiere of 'The Dark Knight Rises' held at the Odeon West End - Arrivals.