Christian Bale is a dedicated and formidable actor in Hollywood and a go-to artist for some of the most acclaimed directors. The actor has starred in dozens of fascinating, iconic, thrilling, and award-winning movies, many of which have become gems of cinema history, making him an ultimate actor with exceptional star power. He is best known for using method acting, for he has gone through significant physical transformations for many of his on-screen roles to match the elements of his characters.
However, one would be shocked to know that while he was working on his 2000 satirical psychological horror film American Psycho, many believed that his acting skills were terrible. His co-star Josh Lucas once told him that everyone on set was babbling about how he was not a good actor and why makers offered him the project.
Christian Bale’s Remarkable Performance in His Film American Psycho
Christian Bale is one of the most successful and hardworking actors in showbiz. The actor began his career at age ten by appearing in minor roles. He steadily cemented his position as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished and respected actors whose films often grossed millions of dollars at the box office. In his decades-long impressive career, the actor has appeared in dozens of blockbuster, genre-busting, and thrilling projects, proving his versatility as an artist. In 2000, Bale starred in the Mary Harron-directed black comedy film American Psycho.
In the movie, he plays the role of Patrick Bateman, a New York City investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer. The project has a fascinating plot, with sharp dialogues and over-the-top sequences. His performance undoubtedly stole the show, as he captured the depth and essence of his character so well that critics and audiences hailed his power-packed portrayal of Bateman. However, before the legendary actor got this part, many A-list stars, including Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt, had shown interest in playing his role.
Christian Bale’s Co-star Once Told Him Everyone On-set Believed He Was a Terrible Actor
In a candid interview with MovieMaker, Christian Bale shared how his co-star Josh Lucas told him something surprising while working in their shared 2019 film Ford v. Ferrari. The actor claimed that Lucas informed him that everyone on the set of American Psycho believed he was a terrible actor and questioned his casting as Patrick Bateman in the award-winning movie. He told the outlet,
“Josh Lucas and I did a film together recently and he opened my eyes to something that I had been unaware of. He informed me that all of the other actors thought that I was the worst actor they’d ever seen. He was telling me they kept looking at me and talking about me, saying, ‘Why did Mary fight for this guy? He’s terrible.’ And it wasn’t until he saw the film that he changed his mind. And I was in the dark completely about that critique.”
His co-star Chloë Sevigny previously shared her experience working with him, saying,
“Working with Christian was pretty hard because I didn’t know this whole Method thing. I was pretty fresh. I hadn’t done that many films before, and that an actor would lose himself to such a degree and was so consumed by the part, I was having a hard time kind of … just wanting to socialize with him, but feeling that he didn’t, and then my ego being like, ‘Does he not like me? Does he think I’m a terrible actress?'”
Despite what his co-stars thought about him and his acting skills, Christian Bale shut their opinions by delivering a phenomenal performance in the movie featuring a star-studded cast ensemble including Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Chloë Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon.
American Psycho is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: MovieMaker
