Actor Christian Bale is known for his drastic weight fluctuations that enhance his performance on screen. One of Bale’s most iconic roles is in the 2004 film The Machinist, where he plays an insomniac Trevor Reznik. For the role, Bale underwent a drastic weight loss, to obtain the skeletal frame required to essay the character.
While Bale’s physical transformation in The Machinist might seem arduous, it wasn’t his most challenging one. Instead, the actor shared that the one film which he lost the most amount of weight for was James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari. Here is how Bale underwent the physical transformation for the film and why it was a more challenging process than The Machinist.
Christian Bale Underwent Drastic Weight Loss For Ford v Ferrari
Christian Bale stars in the 2019 biographical sports drama film Ford v Ferrari as British race car driver Ken Miles. The film was initially supposed to feature Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in the lead roles but Bale and Matt Damon ended up leading the film.
Before Bale started production on the film, he gained critical acclaim for his performance as former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in the 2018 drama film Vice. For the role, Bale had gained over 40 pounds. However, he had to get back in shape to star in Ford v Ferrari, which required him to have a leaner physique.
Bale reportedly lost about 70 lbs of weight after starring in Vice, so he could play the part of Ken Miles in Ford v Ferrari. In contrast, Bale’s transformation in The Machinist reportedly required him to lose about 62-63 lbs. Before featuring in The Machinist, Bale starred in American Psycho, for which he had a near-zero body fat percentage. In comparison, Bale had to lose even more weight for Ford v Ferrari.
Christian Bale Says He Is Done With Weight Fluctuations
Gaining an incredible amount of weight and then quickly losing it within a few months for Ford v Ferrari seemingly took a toll on Christian Bale. While the actor is known for pulling off astonishing physical transformations, it seems like the 50-year-old is done with such daring undertakings for now.
In 2019, Bale spoke with the Sunday Times and discussed the process of gaining weight for Vice and then quickly having to lose it.
“I can’t keep doing it. I really can’t. My mortality is staring me in the face.”
Bale made the above statement regarding his arduous weight fluctuations and implied he was done with such roles for now. Similarly, in an interview with E!, Bale spoke about how he was not looking forward to another transformation after his role in Ford v Ferrari.
“I’ve become a little bit more boring now, because I’m older and I feel like if I keep doing what I’ve done in the past I’m going to die. So, I’d prefer not to die.”
Bale’s statements confirm that the actor has become more aware of the toll his transformations and weight fluctuations have taken on his body. As a result, Bale has become aware of the consequences of undertaking such transformations while his age advances.
Ford v Ferrari is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and other PVOD platforms.
