Christian Bale completely transforms his body for every role, going from 122 to 228 pounds within a couple of years. His astounding transformations garner both audience and media attention, but there is a method to his madness beyond shock value.Bale told The Guardian that, without formal acting training, he was never able to believably switch back and forth between himself and his character. The punishing transformations he puts his mind and body through help distance him from himself so that he may then step into a new character. “I see actors who can just be themselves and then switch and give these really incredible performances, and then switch back to being themselves,” Bale told The Guardian, “I find I start laughing because I’m too aware that it’s still me. So I try to get as distant as possible. Otherwise, I can’t do it.”Bale’s extreme role preparation has taken a toll on the actor’s body. In recent years, Bale has admitted to going too far for certain roles and has said that he will soon stop undergoing such intense transformations. Keep scrolling to see eight of Christian Bale’s most extreme physical transformations for a role.

8 American Psycho (2000)

In preparation for his breakout role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, Christian Bale went to the gym for the first time. The actor began working out for multiple hours every day as soon as he received the role, and even continued to do so when the role was briefly taken from him and given to Leonardo DiCaprio. During filming, Bale stayed in peak physical condition and remained in character at all times while on set—which made for an unsettling work environment for his co-stars.

7 The Machinist (2004)

Bale’s most dramatic physical transformation was for The Machinist, in which he played a factory worker with severe insomnia. The actor reportedly lost over 60 pounds for the role through a diet of black coffee, apples and canned tuna. While Bale said that his extreme fasting resulted in an incredibly Zen mindset, he has admitted that he may have gone too far for the role. “...It certainly got, shall we say, interesting, in ways that friends and family noticed - and didn't particularly enjoy,” Bale told GQ.

Related: These Movies Made Christian Bale A Star Well Before 'The Dark Knight'

6 Batman Begins (2005)

Just a few months after dropping to 110 pounds for The Machinist, Bale bulked up for the Dark Knight trilogy. Bale ignored advice to start his weight-gain journey by eating soups and other light foods to accommodate his shrunken stomach, and immediately began binge-eating junk food. While this method was not medically sound, it was effective. The actor reportedly gained over 60 pounds in about six months. Bale also worked out to get in superhero shape.

5 The Fighter (2010)

After shooting two Dark Knight films, Bale lost his Batman-bod for The Fighter. Bale lost a reported 30 pounds to play the drug-addicted boxing instructor, Dicky Eklund. According to The Huffington Post, Bale lost the weight by running for multiple hours each day. Bale said that, during this time, he actually felt really healthy.

4 American Hustle (2013)

After becoming rail thin during The Fighter and jacked in The Dark Knight Rises, Bale went full dad-bod for American Hustle. The actor told USA Today that he went from 185 pounds to 228 pounds for the role. Similar to his Batman weight gain, Bale had fun simply eating whatever he wanted. However, the post-filming weight loss process was far less enjoyable. Bale told USA Today that while he once could have dropped the extra pounds within two months, it took him over six to lose this weight.

Related: Is Christian Bale Really So Difficult To Work With?

3 Vice (2018)

Shortly after losing his American Hustle weight, Bale put it right back on for his award-winning performance as Dick Cheney in Vice. The actor truly lost himself in the character and was completely unrecognizable as the former Vice President. Bale reportedly gained about 40 pounds for the role, thanks to a steady diet of pie and other decadent foods. While his weight gain was his most notable physical transformation, Bale also dyed his eyebrows blond for the role.

2 Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Bale had to quickly drop his Vice weight in order to fit into a GT40 race car for his role in Ford v Ferrari. In a Yahoo Entertainment interview, Bale explained that he killed two birds with one stone by getting back in shape for both the role and his own health. Bale also discussed his trepidation that dangerous physical transformations could misguidedly become the mark of an actor’s dedication to a role.

Related: Christian Bale's Best Movies According To IMDb

1 Thor: Love And Thunder (2022)

While Bale was unable to transform into the buff Gorr comic-book character he portrayed in Thor: Love And Thunder, he was still unrecognizable as the God-Butcher. Bale told Entertainment Tonight that because he did not have time to bulk up in between projects, he and director Taika Waititi decided to make Gorr a Nosferatu type and the polar opposite of Thor. Still, over three hours of cosmetics and incapacitating fingernail extensions rendered the actor unrecognizable.

Next: Christian Bale, Charlize Theron And 8 Other Actors Who Are Experts At Transforming Themselves For A Role