Christian Bale

Christian Bale was born on January 30, 1974, in Haverfordwest, Wales. His father David Bale was a commercial pilot and entrepreneur, and his mother Jenny James was a circus clown. His childhood was marked by constant moves - shuttling between England, Portugal, and America. This nomadic lifestyle made him an introverted child, and acting provided an escape. At 13, he caught attention by landing the lead role in Steven Spielberg's 'Empire of the Sun'. His portrayal of a war prisoner child was the first sign of his commitment to character. In 2000, he made his breakthrough in adult cinema with 'American Psycho' as Wall Street investor and serial killer Patrick Bateman. He masterfully conveyed the character's superficial perfectionism and inner emptiness. In 2004, he dropped his body weight from 136 to 121 pounds for 'The Machinist' - achieving an almost skeletal appearance. This extreme physical transformation proved how far Bale would go for roles. Immediately after, he bulked up to 220 pounds for 'Batman Begins'. His portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy was his career's turning point. He managed to keep the character human and complex throughout three films. In 2010, he lost weight again to play drug-addicted boxer Dicky Eklund in 'The Fighter' and finally won his Oscar. Films like 'American Hustle', 'The Big Short', and 'Vice' continued his physical transformations - for 'Vice', he gained 40 pounds and shaved his head to play Dick Cheney. His perfectionist nature sometimes created tension on set - his outburst on the 'Terminator Salvation' set went viral. Off-set, he leads an extremely private life and rarely gives interviews. Married to Sandra Blazic since 2000, he is a father of two children. He is considered one of the most extreme practitioners of method acting.