Preparing to take on a film or television role can be as intense as a performer wants, and for the most part, an actor will simply rehearse and do some research. Others, however, have pushed their limits and have done things to prepare for a role that a sane person would never dream of doing.
Christian Bale has been known to undergo drastic physical transformations for his biggest roles, and when looking back at The Machinist, some might think that the actor took things way too far.
Let’s look back at how Bale prepared for the role and if he went overboard.
He Lost 60 Lbs. For The Machinist
Christian Bale is known for many things, and undergoing insane physical transformations for his roles is certainly near that top of that list. For The Machinist, Bale would undergo one of his most intense and dangerous transformations to date by losing 60 lbs. in just a few months.
Being prepared to do anything for a role can only take an actor so far, so it’s a good thing that Bale can actually deliver when the cameras are rolling. For his weight loss journey for The Machinist, the performer, per Men’s Health, utilized a diet that saw him consume black coffee, an apple, and a can of tuna each day.
When speaking with Esquire UK, Daniel O’Shaughnessy would reveal that "this is less than 200 calories per day, so it’s not healthy at all. An extreme diet like this will play havoc with your metabolism and cause a lot of stress on the body."
Bale, however, would sing an interesting tune when speaking about the weight loss.
“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,” the performer said.
For Bale, the physical aspect of the transformation was simply part of the journey to turning into the character. It was not, however, the only thing that the actor would put himself through in order to feel adequately prepared for the role.
He Also Underwent Other Serious Preparation
Losing too much weight too soon by barely eating anything was not the smartest move to make for Christian Bale’s health, and to compound things, he would also put himself through odd psychological events, as well.
“Two hours sleep, reading a book for 10 hours straight without stopping … unbelievable. You couldn’t rile me up. No rollercoaster of emotions. As soon as you start putting the food back in your stomach, the rollercoaster comes back.”
Being in a shockingly low caloric deficit is already going to be difficult enough, but adding psychological stress to this situation could not have been fun. Sure, Bale spoke highly about the situation, but for the average person, something like this can have a devastating impact. Bale, however, has also transformed himself by putting on excessive weight or muscle, and at this point, he is less inclined to make these transformations.
“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,” the actor told E!.
He Earned Acclaim For The Role
All of the sacrifice that Christian Bale put into transforming for The Machinist wound up paying off in the long run. The film was a modest financial success, but it did earn praise from viewers and critics alike.
Bale received praise for his performance, but many people were simply fixated on the physical transformation that he underwent for the film. He looked sickly and worn down, which added a layer of depth to his performance that simply would not have been there otherwise. Bale, however, would look drastically different for his next movie.
Once he wrapped up filming The Machinist, Christian Bale would pack on 100 lbs. to play Batman on the big screen. This wound up being too much weight, and Christopher Nolan would have Bale drop 20 lbs. for the role.
“I was straight into pizza and ice-cream and eating five meals in a sitting. My stomach expanded really quickly. I got very sick during that time but I enjoyed getting sick. I didn't mind it at all,” said Bale.
Christian Bale went overboard with his Machinist preparation, and while he has transformed plenty of times, it looks like those days might be over for him. At this point, it’s probably the smartest choice.