Christian Bale
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Film
The Dark Knight
Bruce Wayne
2008
Series
Wogan
Self
1982
Film
The Dark Knight Rises
Bruce Wayne
2012
Film
The Prestige
Alfred Borden
2006
Film
Batman Begins
Bruce Wayne / Batman
2005
Film
Thor: Love and Thunder
Gorr
2022
Film
American Psycho
Patrick Bateman
2000
Film
Ford v Ferrari
Ken Miles
2019
Film
The Bride!
Frank
2026
Series
GMTV
Self
1993
Film
The Big Short
Michael Burry
2015
Series
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Self / Presenter
1992
Film
American Hustle
Irving Rosenfeld
2013
Film
Terminator Salvation
John Connor
2009
Film
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Moses
2014
Film
Public Enemies
Melvin Purvis
2009
Series
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self - Guest
1999
Film
Pocahontas
Thomas (voice)
1995
Film
Little Women
Laurie
1994
Series
HBO First Look
Self
1992
Film
Equilibrium
John Preston
2002
Film
Vice
Dick Cheney
2018
Film
3:10 to Yuma
Dan Evans
2007
Film
The Machinist
Trevor Reznik
2004
Film
The Fighter
Dicky Eklund
2010
Film
Hostiles
Captain Joseph J. Blocker
2017
Film
Reign of Fire
Quinn Abercromby
2002
Film
Empire of the Sun
Jim
1987
Film
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
Bagheera (voice)
2018
Series
Entertainment Tonight
Self
1981
Series
Entertainment Tonight
1981
Film
Amsterdam
Burt Berendsen
2022
Film
The New World
John Rolfe
2005
Film
The Pale Blue Eye
Augustus Landor
2022
Film
Knight of Cups
Rick
2015
Film
I'm Not There
Jack / Pastor John
2007
Film
The Promise
Chris Myers
2016
Film
Rescue Dawn
Dieter Dengler
2007
Film
Shaft
Walter Wade, Jr.
2000
Film
Out of the Furnace
Russell Baze
2013
Film
The Flowers of War
John Miller
2011
Film
Treasure Island
Jim Hawkins
1990
Film
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Mandras
2001
Film
Velvet Goldmine
Arthur Stuart
1998
Film
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Demetrius
1999
Film
Newsies
Jack 'Cowboy' Kelly
1992
Film
Harsh Times
Jim Luther Davis
2005
Film
Swing Kids
Thomas Berger
1993
Madden
Al Davis
2026
Film
Henry V
Robin the Luggage-Boy
1989
Film
The Portrait of a Lady
Edward Rosier
1996
Series
The Early Show
Self
1999
Film
Spielberg
Self - Segment "Empire of the Sun"
2017
Film
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder
Self - Gorr
2022
Film
Catwoman: The Feline Femme Fatale
Self
2021
Film
Laurel Canyon
Sam
2003
Film
Ending the Knight
Self
2012
Film
Mio in the Land of Faraway
Jum-Jum / Benke
1987
Film
Prince of Jutland
Amled
1994
Film
Heat 2
Series
Anastasia - The Mystery of Anna
Tsarevich Alexei
1986
Film
Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer
Self
2022
Series
Gotham Tonight
Bruce Wayne
2008
Film
The Secret Agent
Stevie
1996
Series
Heart of the Country
Ben Harris
1987
Series
E! True Hollywood Story
Self (archive footage)
1996
Film
Joker: Put on a Happy Face
Self
2020
Film
Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a Scene
Self
2008
Film
The Director's Notebook: The Cinematic Sleight of Hand of Christopher Nolan
Self
2007
Film
Tankman Begins
Batman (archive footage)
2005
Film
Mary, Mother of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth
1999
Film
The Resurrection of Christ
2026
Film
Making of a True Story: Rescue Dawn
Self
2007
Film
Metroland
Chris
1998
Film
All the Little Animals
Bobby Platt
1999
Film
A Murder of Quality
Tim Perkins
1991
Film
The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun
Self
1987
Film
Ford v Ferrari: Bringing the Rivalry to Life
Self
2020
Film
The Batmobile
Self
2012
Film
Citizen Steve
Self - Actor
1987
Film
The Making of American Hustle
Self
2014
Film
Keepers of the Covenant: Making 'Exodus: Gods and Kings'
Self
2015
Film
Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight
Self
2008
Film
Sibyl
(Archive footage)
2025
Film
Heath Ledger: A Tribute
Self
2009
Series
Making of "The Flowers of War"
2011
Michael Mann: Making 'Public Enemies'
Self
2009
Film
Blood Drips Heavily on Newsie Square
Self
1991
Shaft: Still the Man
Self
2000
Best of Enemies
Gennady Vasilenko
Film
Dying to Tell the Story
Narrator / Dan Eldon (uncredited) (voice)
1998