While Daniel Day-Lewis is the King of the method acting technique, Christian Bale could easily be the Prince. The Batman Begins star has been famously known to immerse himself in his characters not just emotionally, but also through drastic physical changes. From putting on tons of flab in films like Backseat and American Hustle, to losing massive pounds in Hostiles and The Machinist, Bale has managed to sway between these extremes with Elan.
One of how the American Psycho actor has managed to go from heavy to light is through extreme fasting methods. Bale, who lost a staggering 27 kgs for The Machinist in 2004, spoke about the exhausting results of fasting which also became a strangely calming experience for him mentally and emotionally.
Christian Bale Achieved A Surreal High During Excessive Fasting
It is common knowledge that Christian Bale will not hesitate to go to any lengths to bring relatability and authenticity to his characters. The actor is also famous for putting his body through extreme rigor to look the part physically, including putting on and dropping excessive amounts of weight in short periods. In 2004’s The Machinist, The Dark Knight actor played a disturbed insomniac who is haunted by unusual occurrences.
In preparation for this role, Bale sacrificed sleep and resorted to brutal fasting to lose 27 kilos. Speaking to The Guardian, the British star recalled the exhaustion, pain, and strangely elevated and calm mental state that he was in, despite putting his body and mind through torture.
“It’s an amazing experience doing that. When you’re so skinny that you can hardly walk up a flight of stairs … you’re, like, this being of pure thought. It’s like you’ve abandoned your body. That’s the most Zen-like state I’ve ever been in my life. Two hours sleep, reading a book for 10 hours straight without stopping … unbelievable.”
Bale revealed though, that this surreal state was short-lived as the rollercoaster of emotions almost always came back with a vengeance once food entered his system. The actor said that he was ready to put his body through the wringer again and again for the sake of his character.
Why Christian Bale Will Never Do A Romantic Comedy
While Christian Bale has proved that complex and dark characters are right up his alley, the actor has never been seen in the rom-com genre thus far. While Bale’s acting chops ensure that he would be able to nail any romantic role, the actor confessed the relationship between him and romantic comedies was like chalk and cheese. In an interview with The Guardian, the Thor: Love and Thunder star said,
“I was asked to do a romantic comedy recently and I thought they’d lost their minds. I don’t know why anyone would ever offer me a romantic comedy. I find American Psycho very funny.”
While Bale’s niche is characters who have a complex and gritty arc, it remains to be seen if the actor does change his mind to do a lighthearted romance shortly.
Source: The Guardian
