Christian Charles Philip Bale is a Welsh-born English actor. In addition to starring roles in big budget Hollywood films, he has long been heavily involved in films produced by independent producers and art houses. Bale first caught the public eye when he was cast in the starring role of Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun at the age of 13, playing an English boy who is separated from his parents and subsequently finds himself lost in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Since then, he has portrayed a wide range of characters. Bale is especially noted for his cult following: the tenth anniversary issue of Entertainment Weekly hailed him as one of the "Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures of the Past Decade", citing his cult status on the Internet. EW called Bale one of the "Most Creative People in Entertainment" in anticipation of the release American Psycho (2000). The Guardian named Bale as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. Bale was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales to parents of English descent. His father, David Bale, was an entrepreneur, commercial pilot, and talent manager and his mother, Jenny James, was a circus clown and performer. He is the youngest of four children. After leaving Wales in 1976, Bale spent his childhood in several countries, including England, Portugal and the United States. Settling for four years in Bournemouth and Henley-on-Thames, Bale was educated at Shiplake C of E Primary School, the independent Dolphin School in Berkshire, and at Bournemouth School. He participated actively in rugby union. Bale has described his childhood, with respect to his mother being in the circus, as "interesting". He recalled his first kiss was with an acrobat named Barta. As a child, he trained in ballet and guitar. His sister Louise's work in theatre also influenced his decision to become an actor. Bale's father was very supportive of his son's acting, resigning from his job as a commercial pilot to travel and manage Bale's burgeoning career. Bale's first foray into acting was a commercial for the fabric softener Lenor in 1982, when he was eight years old. He appeared in a Pac-Man cereal commercial playing a child rock star a year later and in 1984 made his stage debut in The Nerd, opposite Rowan Atkinson. On 29 January, 2000, Bale married Sandra "Sibi" Blažić (born 1970), a one-time model, make-up artist and personal assistant to Winona Ryder; the couple have a daughter, Emmeline, who was born on 27 March 2005, in Santa Monica, California. Since 1992, Bale has resided in Los Angeles.
Movie | Concrete Island | 2025 | |
Movie | Amsterdam | Burt Berendsen | 2022-09-27 |
Movie | Catwoman: The Feline Femme Fatale | Self | 2021-05-05 |
Movie | Joker: Put on a Happy Face | Self | 2020-08-18 |
Movie | Ford v Ferrari | Ken Miles | 2019-11-13 |
Movie | Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle | Bagheera (voice) | 2018-11-25 |
Movie | Vice | Dick Cheney | 2018-12-25 |
Movie | Song to Song | deleted scenes | 2017-03-17 |
Movie | Spielberg | Self - Segment "Empire of the Sun" | 2017-10-05 |
Movie | Hostiles | Captain Joseph J. Blocker | 2017-12-22 |
Movie | The Promise | Chris Myers | 2016-12-02 |
Movie | Keepers of the Covenant: Making 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' | Self | 2015-03-17 |
Movie | Knight of Cups | Rick | 2015-09-10 |
Movie | The Big Short | Michael Burry | 2015-12-11 |
Movie | Exodus: Gods and Kings | Moses | 2014-12-03 |
Movie | The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy | Self (archive footage) | 2013-09-24 |
Movie | American Hustle | Irving Rosenfeld | 2013-12-03 |
Movie | Out of the Furnace | Russell Baze | 2013-11-09 |
Movie | The Batmobile | Self | 2012-07-16 |
Movie | The Dark Knight Rises | Bruce Wayne | 2012-07-17 |
Movie | Ending the Knight | Self | 2012-12-04 |
Movie | The Flowers of War | John Miller | 2011-12-15 |
Movie | The Fighter | Dicky Eklund | 2010-12-10 |
Movie | Terminator Salvation | John Connor | 2009-05-20 |
Movie | Public Enemies | Melvin Purvis | 2009-07-01 |
Movie | Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a Scene | Self | 2008-07-15 |
Movie | The Dark Knight | Bruce Wayne | 2008-07-16 |
Movie | Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight | Self | 2008-07-15 |
Movie | I'm Not There | Jack / Pastor John | 2007-10-01 |
Movie | 3:10 to Yuma | Dan Evans | 2007-09-06 |
Movie | The Prestige | Alfred Borden | 2006-10-17 |
Movie | Rescue Dawn | Dieter Dengler | 2006-09-09 |
Movie | Tankman Begins | Batman (archive footage) | 2005-06-09 |
Movie | The New World | John Rolfe | 2005-12-25 |
Movie | Harsh Times | Jim Luther Davis | 2005-09-11 |
Movie | Batman Begins | Bruce Wayne / Batman | 2005-06-10 |
Movie | The Machinist | Trevor Reznik | 2004-07-02 |
Movie | Reign of Fire | Quinn Abercromby | 2002-07-09 |
Movie | Captain Corelli's Mandolin | Mandras | 2001-04-18 |
Movie | Shaft | Walter Wade, Jr. | 2000-06-15 |
Movie | American Psycho | Patrick Bateman | 2000-04-13 |
Series | Family Guy | Unknown | 1999-01-31 |
Movie | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Demetrius | 1999-05-20 |
Series | The Early Show | Unknown | 1999-11-01 |
Movie | Mary, Mother of Jesus | Jesus of Nazareth | 1999-11-14 |
Movie | All the Little Animals | Bobby Platt | 1999-07-09 |
Movie | Velvet Goldmine | Arthur Stuart | 1998-08-28 |
Movie | The Secret Agent | Stevie | 1996-11-08 |
Movie | The Portrait of a Lady | Edward Rosier | 1996-10-17 |
Movie | Pocahontas | Thomas (voice) | 1995-06-14 |
Movie | Royal Deceit | Amled | 1994-02-23 |
Movie | Little Women | Laurie | 1994-12-21 |
Movie | Swing Kids | Thomas Berger | 1993-03-05 |
Movie | Newsies | Jack 'Cowboy' Kelly | 1992-04-10 |
Movie | A Murder of Quality | Tim Perkins | 1991-10-04 |
Movie | Blood Drips Heavily on Newsie Square | Self | 1991-01-01 |
Movie | Treasure Island | Jim Hawkins | 1990-01-22 |
Movie | Henry V | Robin the Luggage-Boy | 1989-10-05 |
Movie | Empire of the Sun | Jim | 1987-12-09 |
Movie | Mio in the Land of Faraway | Jum-Jum / Benke | 1987-07-01 |
Movie | The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun | Self | 1987-12-30 |
Movie | Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna | Alexei | 1986-12-07 |
Series | Wogan | Unknown | 1982-05-04 |
Are you sure you want to hide this?