The Dark Knight star Christian Bale almost pushed his body to its limit trying to lose the weight he previously gained from a project in order to star in James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari. He played British driver Ken Miles, and many would not believe that he needed to shed a significant mass in order for him to fit inside the car.
Despite starving himself to death, Bale was only paid $15 million. The actor gained 40 pounds when he starred in 2018’s Vice and then lost 70 pounds when he started filming for Ford v Ferrari. This amazing weight transformation took some drastic measures that nearly broke his body.
Christian Bale Had To Undergo Several Dramatic Body Transformations For Movie Roles
Speaking with Men’s Journal, Christian Bale’s co-star Matt Damon revealed how the American Psycho transformed his physique:
“[Christian] was coming off Vice, and from the time we decided to do the movie to the time we started shooting, he dropped 70 pounds. The first day on the set, I asked him: ‘How did you do that?’ I’ve lost weight and gained weight for parts, and there are lots of theories on how to do it. And he just looked at me and said: ‘I didn’t eat.’ That guy is cut from a different cloth.”
Despite Bale’s incredible weight loss, he confessed to being done with dramatic body transformations. He told E! News:
“I’ve become a little bit more boring now because I’m older, and I feel like if I keep doing what I’ve done in the past I’m going to die. So, I’d prefer not to die.”
Christian Bale’s sacrifice and dedication paid off after Ford v Ferrari emerged as a box office success as well as a recipient of high critic ratings. It also went on to win two Academy Awards: Best Film Editing and Sound Editing, and a nomination for Best Picture.
While The Machinist star had to go to extreme lengths, a fellow DC star seems to have it easy earning cash by simply relying on major star power. Black Adam’s Dwayne Johnson breaks the record for earning $50 million in a single movie.
The Rock’s payday for Amazon Studios’ upcoming holiday film Red One beats Robert Downey Jr’s and Will Smith’s $40 million salary for Captain American: Civil War and King Richard, respectively. According to Variety, Johnson immediately pocketed $30 million upon saying yes to the project and will receive the remaining $20 million upon wrapping up production.
Dwayne Johnson’s Supreme Star Power Brings In The Money
It’s not difficult to see why studios are willing to shell out wads of cash for prolific actors like Dwayne Johnson. His presence in a movie already wins half the battle, even if they don’t earn critics’ approval. According to The Numbers, the former wrestler-turned-actor’s films have grossed more than $13.7 billion globally.
Some of The Rock’s highest-grossing movies of all time include Furious 7 (2015) with $1.516 billion, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) with $962.5 million, and Moana (2016) with $645 million. The man just literally churns money like an ATM for major studios.
Christian Bale’s Ford v Ferrari is available on Hulu.
Sources: Men’s Journal, E! News, Variety
