Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Christian Bale, the renowned British actor, has long been recognized as one of the most dedicated actors in Hollywood.
His commitment to each character he plays often goes beyond the bounds of conventional acting, particularly when it comes to extreme physical transformations.
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Bale doesn't hesitate to drastically alter his body shape, either by losing or gaining significant weight, to authentically portray his characters.
This method acting, which involves drastic physical transformation, has produced some of the most iconic performances of his career, earning him widespread recognition and numerous prestigious awards.
The Machinist (2004)
In the 2004 psychological thriller, The Machinist, Christian Bale played Trevor Reznik, a factory worker suffering from severe insomnia and delusions.
For this role, Bale underwent the most drastic physical transformation of his career, losing approximately 28.5 kg (63 pounds) from his already lean body weight, reaching a weight of approximately 54 kg (120 pounds).
His diet was reportedly extremely restrictive, consuming only one can of tuna and one apple per day, supplemented by black coffee and water.
Bale also smoked and drank whiskey to curb his appetite.
This dedication made his performance in The Machinist one of the most memorable and discussed in cinema history.
Batman Begins (2005)
After completing The Machinist, Christian Bale had to quickly rebuild his muscle mass for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Begins (2005).
In less than six months, he gained approximately 45 kg (100 pounds), transitioning from a skinny frame to the muscular and muscular physique required for playing a superhero.
However, he initially gained too much weight, reaching 100 kg (220 pounds), and had to lose approximately 13.6 kg (30 pounds) to fit into the Batman costume and for the agility required in the action scenes.
The Fighter (2010)
For his role as Dicky Eklund, a drug-addicted former boxer, in The Fighter (2010), Christian Bale again underwent significant weight loss.
He lost approximately 30 pounds (13.6 kg) to portray Eklund's emaciated physique, damaged by substance abuse.
Unlike The Machinist, the weight loss for The Fighter was primarily through intense exercise, particularly running, rather than a strict diet.
This transformation, combined with his intense and accurate performance, helped him win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
American Hustle (2013)
In American Hustle (2013), Christian Bale plays Irving Rosenfeld, a master con man with a pot belly and a wig.
For this role, Bale gained approximately 19.5 kg (43 pounds), reaching a weight of approximately 103 kg (228 pounds).
This transformation involved not only weight gain but also a hunched posture, which drastically altered his appearance and contributed to his unique portrayal of the character.
Bale's dedication to the role even led to health problems, including a herniated disc that temporarily reduced his height.
Despite this, his performance in the film earned him an Academy Award nomination.
Vice (2018)
To play US Vice President Dick Cheney in the biopic Vice (2018), Christian Bale gained approximately 18 kg (40 pounds) and shaved his head to resemble Cheney.
In addition to the weight gain, Bale also used prosthetics and spent hours in the makeup chair to achieve the uncanny resemblance to Dick Cheney.
For this role, Bale specifically consulted with doctors and nutritionists to ensure the weight gain was done in a healthier way than before.
This transformation, which also involved neck exercises to strengthen his neck muscles, was crucial to his critically acclaimed performance, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.