In 2007 Christian Bale has jumped between four movie genres from war, to western, to comic book blockbuster to drama highlighting his versatility as an actor.British born Bale began his career at the tender age of thirteen in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun as a young boy who becomes separated from his parents during World War II ending up in a Japanese internment camp.His performance earnt him widespread praise and an award for "Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor" award from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures; the award was created especially for him.After almost giving up his acting career because of media and peer attention he appeared in a string of movies including Treasure Island, Henry V, and Little Women in the early to mid-nineties.Bale breakthrough role, as an adult actor, came in 2000 as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. While the film was met with mixed reactions at Sundance Film Festival it cemented Bale’s cult following: in the tenth anniversary of Entertainment Weekly Bale was named in the ‘Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures of the Past Decade’ due to his impressive internet cult status.2002 proved to be a disappointing year for Bale as he tried his hand at action movies including Reign of Fire with Matthew McConaughey and Equilibrium. Both were not received well at the box office with Equilibrium giving Bale's career a severe knock.

However Equilibrium, and Bale's role as John Preston, also gained a huge cult following.

In 2004 he returned to character acting as Trevor Reznik in The Machinist, a role the actor claims helped him cope with his depression.

Reznik was a chronic insomniac and for this role Bale dropped sixty pounds to portray the character’s skeletal figure. The actor wanted to lose more weight but was forbade by doctors who were concerned for his health.

After filming The Machinist he was given a deadline of six months to bulk up for the part of Batman. As well as putting on the lost weight he also had to build up his muscles which were damaged and weakened by the extreme weight loss. He met his deadline putting on a hundred pounds in six months.

Batman Begins, which goes back to the origins of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, was met with critical and commercial success. Bale is currently filming the sequel The Dark Knight which is due for release in 2008.

Since Batman Bale has worked relentlessly and produced a string of hits including Rescue Dawn where he played a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. This role required him to repeat his The Machinist weight loss. He teamed up with Batman director Christopher Nolan in The Prestige with High Jackman were two magician’s rivalry spirals out of control in a tense thriller.

His current film, a western with Russell Crowe, 3:10 to Yuma has topped the U.S box office in recent weeks as well as receiving high critical acclaim.

He will next star in I’m Not There, an artistic reflection of the life and work of Bob Dylan. Bale will take on an aspect of Dylan’s life with Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett taking on different pats of the musician’s life.

Over the last few years Bale has proved himself as a fine and popular actor he is also widely regarded as the best actor never to have been nominated for an Oscar.

Helen Earnshaw

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