Christian Bale's Greatest Moments

Christian Bales Greatest Moments

In his 23-year career, Christian Bale has played a 'Swing'-dancing Hitler Youth, a mass-murdering 'American Psycho' and a crime-fighting 'Dark Knight.' He's dropped and gained tons of weight for roles, lit up the screen in both indies and blockbusters, and starred in the second highest-grossing movie of all time.

With two huge roles on tap this summer, in the man-vs.-robot reboot 'Terminator Salvation' and the John Dillinger shoot-'em-up 'Public Enemies,' we look at Bale's greatest moments of all time. -- By Tom DiChiara

Getty Images

'Empire' Strikes

Bale's first blip on the pop culture radar came in 1987 when, at 13, he played an English boy held in a Japanese prison camp in Steven Spielberg's WWII epic 'Empire of the Sun.' The role, which Bale won after co-starring with Spielberg's then wife Amy Irving in the TV movie 'Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna,' earned the young thesp the National Board of Review's first-ever award for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor. And, no, Bale did not win the award again for his 'Terminator' rant.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

Bale Does Disney! Read All About It!

Bale showed off his singing and dancing skills in his next starring vehicle, the 1992 Disney musical 'Newsies.' To play the organizer of a newsboy strike in this fictionalized account of an 1899 work stoppage, Bale trained rigorously for 10 weeks in dance and martial arts -- it was just a hint of his intense dedication to craft.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

Not 'Kids' Play

'Swing Kids' may sound like another Disney period musical, but Bale's 1993 follow-up to 'Newsies' was much darker. Bale and Robert Sean Leonard star as two pals living in WWII Germany who are forced to be Hitler Youth by day but rebel by dancing to outlawed American swing music at night. Obviously, Hitler isn't cool with that, and things get messy -- giving both actors a chance to show off their dramatic chops ... and their ability to do the Charleston.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

In Love With 'Women'

Continuing his streak of period dramas, Bale displayed a more romantic side in Gillian Armstrong's 1995 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel 'Little Women.' While the movie clearly belongs to Winona Ryder's Jo, Claire Danes' Beth, Susan Sarandon's Abigail and the rest of the March women, Bale turned heads as Laurie -- the boy next door who falls in love with not one but two March sisters. Smart man.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

Holy Role-er

In his first TV gig since 1991, Bale took up the cross to play Jesus of Nazareth in the 1999 TV miniseries 'Mary, Mother of Jesus.' Though the telepic received generally mediocre reviews, Bale's performance was lauded for its depth and emotion. We're just upset that at the last moment Madonna dropped out of playing Mary. Madonna playing the Madonna? Heavy.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

Getty Images

Going 'Psycho'

Not every actor would have the stones to play a morally bankrupt, narcissistic mass murderer with zero redemptive qualities, as Bale did for 2000's 'American Psycho.' To play Patrick Bateman in the Brett Easton Ellis adaptation, Bale whipped himself into ridiculous shape (see abs to your left) and showed that he could be both charismatic and creepy whilst seducing his prey with Huey Lewis tunes and fine chardonnay. Critics universally fawned over the performance ... and women were simultaneously smitten and terrified for their lives.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

The Marrying Man

At least one woman wasn't put off by Christian's turn in 'Psycho.' The same year the film bowed in theaters, Bale married Sibi Blazic, whom he met while she was acting as personal assistant to his 'Little Women' co-star Winona Ryder. In 2005, Christian and Sibi welcomed a daughter, Emmaline.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

Getty Images

'Fire'-d Up

In a role that marked his first foray into the action genre and his biggest budgeted film at the time, Bale joined forces with Matthew McConaughey to play a pair of post-apocalyptic dragon hunters in 2002's 'Reign of Fire.' Though it received mixed reviews and recouped only half of its estimated $95 million budget, 'Fire' showed the first spark of Bale's ability to carry an action pic.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews

Weight-Shedding Machine

Christian gave new meaning to word "devotion" (and perhaps "insanity") when he shed 63 pounds to play a hollow-eyed, skeleton-framed insomniac in 'The Machinist.' His preparation regimen included sleep deprivation, drinking nonfat lattes, smoking a ton of cigarettes and eating only apples. It's not his best look, but hell if it didn't show a devotion to his art.

'Terminator' showtimes & tickets
'Terminator: Where Are They?
'Terminator' cast interviews