Christian Bale

Birth Name: Christian Charles Philip Bale
Birth Place: Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 01/30/1974, Aquarius
Profession: Actor

A reluctant movie megastar, the Wales-born Christian Bale got his big break at age 13 when he landed the role of a spoiled British boy who comes of age in a World War II internment camp in Steven Spielberg's 1987 gem Empire of the Sun. His transformative performance was a harbinger of his chameleon-like work to come. However, Bale temporarily backed off from acting because he was uncomfortable with his newfound fame. In the 1990s, Bale reemerged with impressive supporting performances in a series of dramatic films (Little Women, The Portrait of a Lady), but 2000's American Psycho was the movie that put him back on the Hollywood map. Bale became a cult heartthrob thanks in part to his disarming smile and newly chiseled physique. The buff actor spent the next few years reinventing himself for every role. He lost a shocking amount of weight to play an insomniac in 2004's The Machinist before bulking back up the next year to take on the title role in the blockbuster Batman Begins. Other solid roles followed in prestige pictures (The New World, Rescue Dawn) and interesting indies (Harsh Times, I'm Not There), and in the 2008 Caped Crusader hit sequel The Dark Knight. In 2009 Bale rebooted another dormant film franchise when he took on the iconic role of John Connor in Terminator Salvation. The movie was a disappointment, and a profanity-laced diatribe aimed at the film's cinematographer became an Internet sensation that briefly sullied Bale's reputation; he eventually apologized. (His reputation also took a hit the previous year when he was arrested over an incident involving his mother and sister, though, ultimately, no charges were brought.) Despite his A-list status, Bale continues to keep a low profile off-screen believing the less an audience knows about an actor's private life, the more believable he is on-screen. Certainly his intense nature serves his film work quite well.


Christian Bale Fast Facts:

At age 10 in 1984, made his London stage debut as Thor in The Nerd with Rowan Atkinson.

Born in Wales, he split his childhood between London, California and Portugal.

For his performance in 1987's Empire of the Sun, the 13-year-old Bale won Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor from the National Board of Review, an honor created specifically for his work in the film.

Trained for 10 weeks to sing and dance in the 1992 musical Newsies.

Became the stepson of Gloria Steinem, one of the pioneers of the feminist movement, when she married his father in 2000.

Lost more than 60 pounds for 2004's The Machinist, dropping his weight to 120.

Despite taking the lead role in the hugely successful 2008 action classic The Dark Knight, Bale is not fond of promoting himself. In 2009, he told USA Today: "I don't pay attention to box office or numbers. I just do movies that I'd like to work on and see."

Active in Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund.  

Christian Bale Relationships:

• Rex Bale - Great-uncle
• Emmeline - Daughter
• Gloria Steinem - Stepmother
• Louise Bale - Sister
• David Bale - Father
• Jane Bale - Mother
• Erin Bale - Sister
• Sibi Blazic - Wife
• Sharon Bale - Sister 

Christian Bale Awards:

• 2009 People's Choice Awards: Favorite On Screen Match Up - Winner
• 2009 People's Choice Awards: Favorite Superhero - Winner
• 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture - Nominee
• 2011 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Winner
• 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture - Nominee
• 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Winner
• 2010 BAFTA Awards: Best Supporting Actor - Nominee
• 2010 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Winner

Pictures:

 

Christian Bale and wife Sibi Bale - The 83rd Annual Academy Awards, February 27, 2011

Christian Bale and Maggie Gyllenhaal - "The Big Pictures 08" at ShoWest in Las Vegas, March 13, 2008

Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Christian Bale and Maggie Gyllenhaal - "The Dark Knight" New York City premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Center, July 14, 2008



Christian Bale and wife Sibi Bale - The Los Angeles premiere of "3:10 to Yuma" at Mann National Theatre, August 21, 2007



Christian Bale and Russell Crowe - The Los Angeles premiere of "3:10 to Yuma" at Mann National Theatre, August 21, 2007



Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan - "The Prestige" premiere, October 17, 2006



Christian Bale, Kate Bosworth and Brandon Routh - The 2006 MTV Movie Awards, June 3, 2006



Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Christian Bale and Morgan Freeman - The "Batman Begins" Paris photocall in France, June 14, 2005

Michael Caine and Christian Bale - The "Batman Begins" Los Angeles premiere, June 6, 2005

Christian Bale - The "Reign of Fire" premiere, July 9, 2002

Christian Bale - A Midsummer Night's Dream premiere, April 26, 1999

Christian Bale - The "Little Women" premiere, December 11, 1994

Christian Bale with his mother Jenny and his sister - The 'Empire of the Sun' movie premiere at Mirabelles in London, March 21, 1988

Christian Bale with his mother Jenny and his sister - The "Empire of the Sun" Movie cast photocall in London, March 20, 1988





Source: tvguide