Christian Bale Starting Out Christian Bale was born

Christian Bale

Starting Out Christian Bale was born in Wales in 1974. In 1982 Bale’s first acting role was in a TV advert for a fabric softener. In 1984 Bale made his West End debut in ‘The Nerd’ with Rowan Atkinson. Bale made his film debut in the made for TV film Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna in 1986 as Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia. This role was followed by leading roles in the fantasy film Mio in the Land of Faraway, and the mini series Heart of the Country. In 1987 Bale won critical acclaim and won the first Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor for his role as Jim Graham in Empire of the Sun.

Awards • National Board of Review Best Juvenile Performance – Empire of the Sun • Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture (drama) – Empire of the Sun • Chlotrudis Awards Best Actor – American Psycho • Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Leading Actor – American Psycho • Catalonian International Film Festival Best Actor – The Machinist • MTV Movie Awards Best Hero – Batman Begins • Saturn Award Best Actor – Batman Begins • Space Choice Awards Best Movie Hero – Batman Begins • San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Special Award – 3: 10 to Yuma, I’m Not There & Rescue Dawn • Independent Spirit Award Robert Altman Award – I’m Not There • Scream Awards Best Superhero – The Dark Knight • Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards Best Ensemble – The Dark Knight • Empire Awards Best Actor – The Dark Knight • People’s Choice Awards Favourite Superhero – The Dark Knight • People’s Choice Awards Favourite on Screen Match up (with Heath Ledger) – The Dark Knight • People’s Choice Awards Favourite Cast – The Dark Knight • West Point Cadet Choice Awards Best Exemplification of Leadership – The Dark Knight • BAFTA Award Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Annual Awards. com Movie Awards Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Austin Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Black Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor - The Fighter

Awards - Cont. • Boston Society of Film Critics Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Boston Soceity of Film Critics Best Ensemble – The Fighter • Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actor - The Fighter • Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Ensemble – The Fighter • Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards Best Ensemble – The Fighter • Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Acting Ensemble – The Fighter • Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Denver Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Detroit Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Florida Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Golden Globes Best Supporting Actor (Motion Picture) – The Fighter • Houston Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Iowa Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Kansas City Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • London Film Critics' Circle British Actor of the Year – The Fighter • National Board of Review Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • New York Film Critics Online Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • North Texas Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter

Awards - Cont. • Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Online Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor (Motion Picture) – The Fighter • Screen Actors Guild Awards Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Utah Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Vancouver Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Washington D. C. Area Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor – The Fighter • Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast – American Hustle • Detroit Film Critics Society – American Hustle • New York Film Critics Online Best Ensemble Cast – American Hustle • Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Best Ensemble Cast – American Hustle • Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Acting – American Hustle • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – American Hustle

Filmography Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna - Dir. Marvin J. Chomsky (1986) Mio in the Land of Faraway - Dir. Vladimir Grammatikov (1987) Empire of the Sun - Dir. Steven Spielberg (1987) Henry V – Dir. Kenneth Branagh (1989) Treasure Island – Dir. Fraser Clarke Heston (1990) A Murder of Quality – Dir. Gavin Millar (1991) Newsies – Dir. Kenny Ortega (1992) Swing Kids – Dir. Thomas Carter (1993) Prince of Jutland – Dir. Gabriel Axel (1994) Little Women – Dir. Gillian Armstrong (1994) Pocahontas – Dir. Mike Gabriel & Eric Goldberg (1995) The Portrait of a Lady – Dir. Jane Campion (1996) The Secret Agent – Dir. Christopher Hampton (1996) Metroland – Dir. Philip Saville (1997) Velvet Goldmine – Dir. Todd Haynes (1998) All the Little Animals – Dir. Jeremy Thomas (1998) A Midsummer Night's Dream – Dir. Michael Hoffman (1999) Mary, Mother of Jesus – Dir. Kevin Conner (1999) American Psycho – Dir. Mary Harron (2000) Shaft – Dir. John Singleton (2000) Captain Corelli's Mandolin – Dir. John Madden (2001) Laurel Canyon – Dir. Lisa Cholodenko (2002)

Filmography - Cont. Reign of Fire – Dir. Rob Bowman (2002) Equilibrium – Dir. Kurt Wimmer (2002) The Machinist – Dir. Brad Anderson (2004) Howl's Moving Castle – Dir. Hayao Miyazaki (2004) Batman Begins – Dir. Christopher Nolan (2005) The New World – Dir. Terrence Malick (2005) Harsh Times – Dir. David Ayer (2005) Rescue Dawn – Dir. Werner Herzdog (2006) The Prestige – Dir. Christopher Nolan (2006) 3: 10 to Yuma – Dir. James Mangold (2007) I'm Not There – Dir. Todd Haynes (2007) The Dark Knight – Dir. Christopher Nolan (2008) Terminator Salvation – Dir. Mc. G (2009) Public Enemies – Dir. Michael Mann (2009) The Fighter – Dir. David O. Russell (2010) The Flowers of War – Dir. Zhang Yimou (2011) The Dark Knight Rises – Dir. Christopher Nolan (2012) Out of the Furnace – Dir. Scott Cooper (2013) American Hustle – Dir. David O. Russell (2013) Exodus – Dir. Ridley Scott (2014) Knight of Cups – Dir. Terrence Malick (TBA)

American Psycho In 2000 Christian Bale starred in American Psycho, directed by Mary Harron. He played the role of serial killer Patrick Bateman, with Willem Dafoe, Reese Witherspoon and Justin Theroux. Before Bale was cast as Patrick Bateman the role was offered to Edward Norton, but he turned it down. The role was then going to go to Leonardo Di. Caprio, with Oliver Stone directing, however Gloria Steinem convinced Di. Caprio and Stone to walk away from the project, meaning Harron and Bale returned. To prepare for the role Bale worked out for several months before and then three hours a day with a personal trainer in preproduction. Bale was inspired by Nicolas Cage’s performance in Vampire’s Kiss because of the similarity between the characters. Although American Psycho was a critical success, it wasn't much of a commercial success. The budget was $8, 000, at the box office it made $28, 674, 417. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on April 14 th 2000.

The Machinist Christian Bale starred in the psychological thriller The Machinist in 2004 as Trevor Reznik. Bale has a reputation for being a method actor, he proved this when he reduced his body weight from 82 kg to 54 kg as his character needed to look dangerously thin. He achieved this by only eating a can of tuna, or unsweetened black coffee and an apple for four months. The Machinist was distributed by Paramount Classics, and was released on January 18 th 2004. The budget was $5, 000 and took in $8, 203, 235 at the box office. The Machinist was received very well by critics and has a score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Dark Knight Trilogy In 2005 Christian Bale played Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Begins, the first instalment of The Dark Knight Trilogy, all directed by Christopher Nolan. In his audition for Batman, Christian Bale wore the batsuit worn by Val Kilmer in Batman Forever. To prepare for the role of Batman, Bale had to regain all the weight he lost for the film The Machinist, he worked with a personal trainer to gain 45 kg so his body would suit Batman. Bale also had a trainer teaching him martial arts and combat skills so he could perform fight scenes himself. In 2008 Bale reprised his role as Batman for The Dark Knight and again in 2012 for The Dark Knight Rises. Bale’s performance as Batman has been universally praised by critics. Film critic Roger Ebert gave every film four out of four stars. The Dark Knight Trilogy is one of the highest grossing film franchises of all time, both The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises grossed over $1, 000, 000 worldwide, with The Dark Knight Rises being the ninth highest grossing film of all time.

The Fighter Christian Bale starred in the sports drama film The Fighter in 2010 with Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams. Bale was cast as Dicky Eckland, after Brad Pitt and Matt Damon dropped out of the role, Mark Wahlberg suggested Bale for the role after meeting him at their children’s school. As Eckland is a drug addict Bale had to lose a significant amount of weight, however he said it was easy as he previously lost 28 kg for The Machinist. Bale also prepared to play the role of Eckland by listening to him in interviews as Eckland has a distinctive Boston accent. Bale’s performance was highly praised and eventually won him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 83 rd Academy Awards. The Fighter was also a commercial success with a budget of $25, 000 and box office takings of $129, 190, 869.

American Hustle On December 13 th 2013 American Hustle was released, starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence. Bale had to gain 50 pounds for his role as Irving Rosenfeld. Bale has stated in interviews that the majority of his performance was improvised and that he often questioned director David O. Russell about the plot. American Hustle has received high praise from critics and several award nominations, including Bale’s second Oscar nomination, however this time for Best Actor and 10 Oscar nominations in total. The budget for American Hustle was $40, 000 with box office takings of $171, 951, 320