Christian Bale is an expert at making physical changes to better suit his film roles. He can lose weight, gain weight, build muscle, shave his head, and even do special workouts to meet the requirements. However, to ensure his health, Bale would like to leave these efforts behind soon.
So, we've decided to build a list of Bale's 10 most dramatic physical transformations in honor of his most recent film, Ford v Ferrari. Let's scroll down to see what the talented actor has done for his characters.
#1 American Psycho (2000)
Source: The Times
Even though Bale was already pretty slim, he took on what he later described as one of the strictest diets of his career to fit the role of Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film American Psycho. Bale also said that he kept a strict diet and had his teeth capped because he wanted to be faithful to the role.
#2 The Machinist (2004)
Source: IMDb
Bale shed over 60 pounds in just four months to play the skin-and-bone Trevor Reznik in the 2004 film The Machinist, bringing his overall weight down to 120 pounds at the start of production. According to reports, Bale lost weight by sticking to a diet of "water, an apple, and one cup of coffee per day."
#3 Batman Begins (2005)
Source: Batman News
To shape himself into the Bruce Wayne that we all know and love, he worked out in the gym and lifted weights. Also, he went straight eating pizza, ice cream, and five meals at once to gain weight.
#4 The Dark Knight (2008)
Source: IMDb
For the role, Bale wanted to gain a little more weight. Therefore, he would have smaller meals every two to three hours in terms of diet. He would want a balance of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and good, healthy fats at each meal.
#5 The Fighter (2010)
Source: IMDb
Bale once again lost weight in 2010 to fit a role. To play Dicky Eklund, a real-life boxer who had a drug addiction, the actor underwent a 30-pound weight loss. The actor said that exercise, not food, was the primary reason for his weight loss for this role.
#6 The Dark Knight Rises (The Dark Knight Rises)
Source: Time
In 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, which served as Bale's third and last appearance as Batman, the actor didn't need to work out too hard because the movie centered on an older Batman.
#7 American Hustle (2013)
Source: IMDb
To play con artist Irving Rosenfeld, Bale put on more than 40 pounds. He revealed that he ate a lot of cheeseburgers, doughnuts, and whatever else he could get his hands on. For the part, the star also shaved his head.
#8 Exodus (2014)
Source: Abc News
Bale played Moses in 2014, and he only had around six months to lose the weight he put on for the film American Hustle. Bale engaged in cardio exercises, including swimming, running, and a three-day powerlifting program claims Health Fitness Revolution.
#9 Vice (2018)
Source: Vox
Bale had to put on weight for yet another job another time. He put on 40 pounds, "eating a lot of pies," shaved his head, and bleached his eyebrows to play former vice president Dick Cheney in 2018. Also, he did some "special exercises" to thicken his neck.
#10 Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Source: IMDb
The actor had to shed the weight he gained for Vice to portray British race car racer, Ken Miles. He did not eat to lose 70 pounds.