Christian Charles Philip Bale was born on January 30, 1974, in the UK. His mother, Jenny James, was a circus performer, while his father, David Bale, was an entrepreneur and activist. Bale moved around a lot in Europe, having lived in 15 towns by the time he was 15. The English actor described the family’s nomadic lifestyle as being driven by “necessity rather than choice” and noted that it had a major influence on his career selection. He left school at 16 and moved with his older sister Louise and their father to Los Angeles after his parents’ divorce.
Bale’s Acting Career
Bale trained in ballet as a child, but his first paid gig was at eight years old in a commercial for fabric softener. He also appeared in a Pac-Man cereal commercial. After his sister was cast in a West End musical, Bale considered taking up acting professionally. He said later he did not find acting appealing but pursued it at the request of those around him because he had no reason not to do so. After participating in school plays, Bale performed opposite Rowan Atkinson in the play The Nerd in the West End in 1984. He did not undergo any formal acting training. Bale credits his wife of over 20 years, Sibi Blažić, and his daughter, Emmeline Bale, for his career success. He told Parade back in 2008 that the two come with him on location. “It’s the most ideal mix,” he told the publication at the time. “These wonderful distractions actually make me better at what I do.” With 55 acting credits beneath his belt, Bale has starred in several global box office successes as well as accolades to compliment his great acting.
Take a look below at our favorite seven Christian Bale movie roles, ranked:
