A master of transformation, Christian Bale has gone through phases of weight gain, weight loss, muscle gain, hair-shaving, and even specialized exercise to meet the physical requirements of his film roles. His transformation in his roles is widely recognized and greatly impressive. From emaciated insomniac (The Machinist) to ripped-caped crusader (The Dark Knight), he fearlessly molds his body to embody his characters.
You have seen him undergo an impressive physical transformation in the Batman trilogy, one of the highest-grossing film franchises. But Bale’s dedication to his work reached a whole new level in the highly regarded David O. Russell’s flick American Hustle. Delving into the bowels of his character, he embarked on a cheeseburger-filled journey that eventually led to his Oscar nomination.
Cheeseburgers & Oscar Gold: Christian Bale’s Transformative Journey in American Hustle
Renowned for his ability to transform like a chameleon, Christian Bale astounded viewers with his portrayal of con artist Irving Rosenfeld in the 2013 black comedy crime film American Hustle. The actor undertook what can also be described as the ultimate “cheeseburger” and “doughnuts” diet in order to physically transform himself into the gluttony of his character and portray it accurately.
Bale, 50, admitted to eating “a whole lot of cheeseburgers” to gain the necessary weight, a sign of his dedication to delivering an Oscar-nominated performance. Unlike most actors who would wear a fat suit to achieve the appearance, he decided to gain weight by simply eating everything he could “get his hands on”. He told People:
“I ate lots of doughnuts, a whole lot of cheeseburgers, and whatever I could get my hands on. I literally ate anything that came my way. I was about 185 and went up to 228. I’m still working it off.”
Bale’s performance in American Hustle, which also starred Bradley Cooper, was praised by critics and audiences alike, and his hard work paid off with an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. While he didn’t receive the prestigious statuette that year, the nomination itself served as proof of his performance’s transformative effect.
American Hustle is Not Christian Bale’s First Role That Required a Drastic Weight Change
The drastic physical changes Christian Bale underwent to play multiple roles during his acting career are remarkable. The actor had to shed sixty pounds altogether for his role in the 2004 thriller The Machinist, where he played a sleep-deprived Trevor Reznik (via Indie Wire). He only consumed “water, an apple, and one cup of coffee per day”. Bale subsequently admitted to having gone too far for this role in a GQ interview.
The very next year, Bale gained the role of Batman and started putting on weight for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (2005). He had the additional burden of having to regain his weight after drastically cutting it off for The Machinist, and he only had a few months before filming started. He gained weight by eating ice cream and pizza, according to Daily Mail.
“I was straight into pizza and ice-cream and eating five meals in a sitting. My stomach expanded really quickly. I got very sick during that time but I enjoyed getting sick. I didn’t mind it at all.”
As amazing as Bale’s dedication to his roles is, even more, amazing are the drastic changes in his physicality that take place in such a short time. His dedication and sacrifices for his roles extend far beyond the enjoyment of a greasy treat.
Well, we last saw him as Augustus Landor in the mystery thriller film The Pale Blue Eye, which was written and directed by Scott Cooper.
American Hustle is available to stream on FuboTV.
