Christian Bale is an amazing actor because the parts he chose to play in the movies were diverse and displayed his true personality. Undoubtedly, everyone has at least watched his film once and can admit that his charm makes it difficult to forget him.
Bale’s acting career started in 1983 with a cereal commercial. In 1984, he appeared in The Nerd on the West End stage. Steven Spielberg noticed him in the 1986 NBC mini-series Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna, which led to his role in Empire of the Sun in 1987.
Even though his dedication to his roles may have impressed many and made him a known figure in Hollywood, but he just saw acting as a way of earning money.
Christian Bale Didn’t Start Acting As a Passion
From the very beginning, acting wasn’t Christian Bale’s passion. Instead, he has seen acting as a way to make money (unlike many other stars who started acting to gain popularity or because they just loved it).
In an interview with GQ, Bale told how he started acting and what is his true relationship with his job. As a young man, he turned to acting because he didn’t go to college, and he needed a job that would pay him immediately to support his family. He told the magazine:
“I just found myself in the position that family things… finding I can support the family through doing it: That’s why I’m doing it [acting].”
Although he refused to delve into the specific reasons, when asked about the circumstances, he only replied:
“Oh, different things, health stuff. Things like that. And factious Britain. That’s what it was as well.”
The Prestige actor explained in the same interview.
“That was my motivation after that. Was just: ‘I got to get enough that the [family] house doesn’t get repossessed.”
Even though Bale continued acting, it didn’t make him fall in love with it. He made less than the makeup artists (working with him in American Psycho). But still, he continued because, after all, it was his motivation to find a way to make money.
Christian Bale Doesn’t See Leading Roles in High Regard
Christian Bale was only 13 when he joined acting to support his family financially, but now that the wheels of fortune have turned in his favor.
Starring in the mega-successful Batman trilogy, besides critically acclaimed performances in The Prestige, American Psycho, American Hustle, and The Fighter (won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar), Bale became a leading man and a major box office draw.
Fans might think Christian Bale’s view on acting changed as he starred in successful films and became a leading man. However, there’s little evidence to support this that he doesn’t hold leading roles in high regard.
In fact, he also shared with GQ that he saw leaving The Dark Knight as his exit from acting. When he left the DC Universe, he aimed for a new beginning, away from the world of acting and Hollywood:
“Ah, maybe I’m going to be forced to go do something different. And maybe this f**ing thing that I got forced into doing as a kid that I didn’t f**ing want to do in the first place, I’m out. And I’m free.”
He also openly admitted that he’s content when not working and has even said words that many can relate to: “I could go forever not working.” Couldn’t we all?”
Bale doesn’t love acting, but he hates boredom as well. So, to keep things interesting, he works hard to make his characters unique, which adds fun to his job on set.
Source: GQ
