Biographie

Often portrays obsessive and detached or loner characters

Frequently works with directors Christopher Nolan, Terrence Malick, David O. Russell and Scott Cooper

Often stars in period films or plays historical figures

Chameleon-like changes of appearance for different roles

Fluent American accent

If he plays an American character, he will use an American accent in all the interviews related to the film. He says he does this so the audience is not confused.

Holds the records for the most weight lost (63 pounds for The Machinist (2004)) and gained (80 pounds for Batman Begins (2005)) for film roles.

Met his wife through Winona Ryder; she was Ryder's personal assistant.

He replaced Leonardo DiCaprio for the film American Psycho (2000).

Met Drew Barrymore on the set of Empire du soleil (1987), who was visiting her godfather, Steven Spielberg. He was thirteen and she was twelve. Bale later revealed that during filming, they went out on only one date, in which they saw "some bloody awful horror film," and she never called again.

[interview in Spin magazine, March 1996] An actor should never be larger than the film he's in.

[on dealing with the resulting media attention of Empire du soleil (1987) at age 13] It was horrific. I was almost crying in interviews and running away during press conferences, pretending I was going to the bathroom and just disappearing.

[on the sudden fame that resulted after Empire du soleil (1987)] I enjoyed making the film, but I was shocked when I received all the attention when I got home to Bournemouth. Girls were all over me, boys wanted to fight me, and I was being asked to open local fêtes when all I wanted to do was ride my BMX bike in the woods. I told my parents I wasn't interested in doing anything again because the attention ruined it.

I don't want to know about the lives of other actors and I don't want people to know too much about me. If we don't know about the private lives of other actors, that leaves us as clean slates when it comes to playing characters. That's the point, they can create these other characters and I can believe them. I think if you're a good enough actor, that's the way to longevity in the film business. Keep everybody guessing.

I started my career without fans.

Amsterdam (2022) - $10,000,000

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) - $10,000,000

American Bluff (2014) - $2,500,000 + 9% gross point

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - $15,000,000

Terminator Renaissance (2009) - $8,000,000 + % gross