Any remaining skepticism about Christian Bale’s acting prowess or physical endurance should be conclusively addressed after reading this article.
Bale is arguably among the greatest actors ever, and potentially an unparalleled professional—considering that few, if any, individuals in other careers would intentionally jeopardize their health by becoming dangerously thin for their job.
If you’ve seen “The Machinist,” you understand the extent of Bale’s dedication. If you haven’t, watch the trailer below.
The film, which boasts an IMDb rating of 7.6, follows Bale’s character, Trevor Reznik, an industrial worker who hasn’t slept in a year and begins to question his sanity.
Bale, an Oscar winner, pushed his physical limits for this psychological thriller.
In an interview with The Guardian, he discussed how he finds a sense of calm during extreme fasting.
Bale said: “It’s an amazing experience doing that. When you’re so skinny that you can hardly walk up a flight of stairs, you’re like, this being of pure thought.
“It’s like you’ve abandoned your body. That’s the most Zen-like state I’ve ever been in my life. Two hours sleep, reading a book for 10 hours straight without stopping; unbelievable.
“You couldn’t rile me up. No rollercoaster of emotions.”
However, this state didn’t last forever. It’s unclear if Bale was pleased to regain weight, although it seemed he found some aspects enjoyable—except for the inability to climb stairs!
He continued: “As soon as you start putting the food back in your stomach, the rollercoaster comes back.”
So how did Bale shed 63 pounds from his initial weight of 173 pounds?
According to IMDb, Bale weighed 173 pounds before beginning his four-month fast for “The Machinist,” ending up at a mere 110 pounds.
His daily diet consisted of an apple, a tin of tuna, and a cup of black coffee, with the occasional whiskey.
This stringent diet naturally impacted his social life.
Bale elaborated: “I’d do a bit of eating hardly anything and losing 51 pounds, and then I’d put on 7 pounds bingeing one night because I’d have a couple of drinks.
“So I decided no more social life, no more friends, no more dinners, no more drinks.”
After completing “The Machinist,” filming for “Batman Begins” started just months later, necessitating a rapid weight gain.
Bale immediately turned to pizza, ice cream, and consuming five meals per sitting, ignoring recommendations to start with soups—a choice that made him violently ill.
But we all know the outcome; to many, he is considered THE Batman.
His commitment to his craft is undeniable.