Christian Bale is no stranger to morphing himself into the mold of his on-screen characters. Be it losing a few dozen pounds or bulking up for a role, the American Psycho star has undergone perhaps some of the most grueling physical transformations that Hollywood has ever witnessed.
But while his astounding bodily transitions are often on the receiving end of gleaming acknowledgment, there was one ironic instance when Bale nearly lost a job because of the same.
Christian Bale’s Incredible Transformation in American Hustle
David O. Russell’s American Hustle was a sure-shot box office hit and garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. But besides the stellar ensemble star cast and darkly audacious yet humorous storyline, what took fans aback was Christian Bale‘s shocking metamorphosis into a chunky con artist-turned-FBI agent, Irving Rosenfeld.
For his role in the 2013 film that landed 10 Oscar nominations, Bale, 49, went on a full-fledged junk rampage, eating literally any and everything that he could “get [his] hands on.” And thanks to endless donuts and cheeseburgers, the actor gained a solid 43 pounds for his part, as reported by 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.”
While he received critical acclaim and a pat or two on the back for this immense physical feat, at the same time, Bale fell smack dab in a mare’s nest because of it; turns out, losing a pot belly isn’t nearly as easy getting one.
Those 43 lbs Became the Bane of His Existence
In his career spanning over three decades, the Academy Award winner has burned a ridiculous amount of calories for one film only to gain it all back for another project on more than one occasion. His transition from a lanky tortured man in 2004’s The Machinist to a buff and dashing Bruce Wayne in 2005’s Batman Begins is a testament to the same.
But gaining weight is relatively easier as opposed to whittling down a few pounds, especially if it’s in a short period. So it was a whole different ball game for his role in Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings. When it was time for him to lose all that donut-induced fat for his role in the 2014 movie, Bale found himself in quite a predicament. Six months down the line, the Amsterdam star was still trying to lose the weight that he’d put on for American Hustle.
“I think I’m certainly getting older. I thought I was going to lose the weight I gained for American Hustle. I said, two months, flat, that’ll do it. I was 185 and I went up to 228 for it. And I’m still working that off! It’s almost six months later. Now I know that when I was in my early 20s, it would have been two months, and that’s it.”
