
Biography
Christian Charles Philip Bale (born 30 January 1974) is an English actor. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Forbes magazine ranked him as one of the highest-paid actors in 2014. Born in Wales to English parents, Bale had his breakthrough role at age 13 in Steven Spielberg's 1987 war film Empire of the Sun. After more than a decade of performing in leading and supporting roles in films, he gained wider recognition for his portrayals of serial killer Patrick Bateman in the black comedy American Psycho (2000) and the titular role in the psychological thriller The Machinist (2004). In 2005, he played superhero Batman in Batman Begins and again in The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), garnering acclaim for his performance in the trilogy, which is one of the highest-grossing film franchises. Bale continued in starring roles in a range of films outside his work as Batman, including the period drama The Prestige (2006), the action film Terminator Salvation (2009), the crime drama Public Enemies (2009), the epic film Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) and the superhero film Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). For his portrayal of boxer Dicky Eklund in the 2010 biographical film The Fighter, he won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Further Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations came for his work in the black comedy American Hustle (2013) and the biographical dramedies The Big Short (2015) and Vice (2018). His performances as politician Dick Cheney in Vice and race car driver Ken Miles in the sports drama Ford v Ferrari (2019) earned him a second win and a fifth nomination respectively at the Golden Globe Awards.
Awards & recognition
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Actor in a Comedy · 2016
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 2011
- Sitges Film Festival Best Actor award · 2004
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2019 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 2016 · nominated
Show all 8 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 2011 · nominated
- Jameson People's Choice Award — Best Actor · 2005 · nominated
Filmography50+ titles

The Dark Knight

The Prestige

Ford v Ferrari

Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer

The Dark Knight Rises

Batman Begins

Spielberg

The Machinist

Empire of the Sun

The Big Short

The Flowers of War

The Fighter

American Psycho

Little Women

3:10 to Yuma

Equilibrium

Henry V

Vice

Rescue Dawn

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder

Hostiles

The Promise

American Hustle

Velvet Goldmine

Pocahontas

The Pale Blue Eye

Public Enemies

Swing Kids

Newsies

Anastasia - The Mystery of Anna

Out of the Furnace

Treasure Island

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

I'm Not There

The New World

Thor: Love and Thunder

Harsh Times

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Bride!

Reign of Fire

Amsterdam

Terminator Salvation

All the Little Animals

Laurel Canyon

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Shaft

The Portrait of a Lady

Mio in the Land of Faraway

Exodus: Gods and Kings

Metroland