The 10th Anniversary issue of "Entertainment Weekly" crowned Christian Bale as one of the "Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures" of the past decade, citing his incredible and legendary cult status on the Internet. EW also calls Bale one of the "Most Creative People in Entertainment" after his brilliant turn as the psychopathic yuppie serial killer in American Psycho (2000). And "Premiere" lauded him as one of the "Hottest Leading Men Under 30". Christian Bale has garnered a huge international audience ever since he wowed critics with his devastating performance in Steven Spielberg's WWII epic Empire of the Sun (1987).Bale made his professional debut opposite British comedian Rowan Atkinson on the London West End stage. He auditioned with 4000 other kids for the coveted role of James Graham in Spielberg's Empire of the Sun (1987). Bale received a special citation for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor from the National Board of Review -- an award specially created for his performance in "Empire". In the following decade, Welsh-born Bale has appeared in Shakespeare, dramas and comedies demonstrating a versatility, depth and range that has made him one of the best reviewed actors today and one of the most popular actors on the Internet. Bale is the youngest in a family of 3 older sisters (Erin, Sharon, and Louise Bale).

1. Lawless (2013) - Actor 2. Knight of Cups (2013) - Actor 3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - Bruce Wayne / Batman

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4. The Flowers of War (2011) - John 5. The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (2011) - Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Supporting Role 6. The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2010) - Himself (archive sound) (uncredited) 7. The Fighter (2010) - Dicky Eklund

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8. Public Enemies (2009) - Melvin Purvis

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9. Terminator Salvation (2009) - John Connor

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10. The Dark Knight (2008) - Bruce Wayne / Batman

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11. Batman Unmasked (2008) - Himself 12. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) - Dan Evans

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13. The Director's Notebook (2007) - Himself 14. I'm Not There. (2007) - Jack / Pastor John

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15. Rescue Dawn (2006) - Dieter Dengler 16. The Prestige (2006) - Alfred Borden

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17. The New World (2005) - John Rolfe 18. Batman Begins (2005) - Bruce Wayne / Batman

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19. Batman Begins (2005) - Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice) 20. Harsh Times (2005) - Jim Luther Davis 21. Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) - Howl (voice: English version) 22. The Machinist (2004) - Trevor Reznik 23. Finding: 'Equilibrium' (2003) - Himself 24. Equilibrium (Equilibrium) (2002) - John Preston 25. Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) - Mandras 26. American Psycho (2000) - Patrick Bateman 27. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) - Demetrius 28. All the Little Animals (1998) - Bobby Platt 29. The American Film Institute Salute to Steven Spielberg (1996) - Himself 30. The Secret Agent (1996) - Stevie 31. Pocahontas (1995) - Thomas (voice) 32. Empire of the Sun (1987) - Jim 'Jamie' Graham

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33. Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986) - Alexei

1. Hand-picked by director/writer Mary Harron and author Bret Easton Ellis to star in American Psycho (2000). Consequently, was noted by the media as the first star of American Psycho (2000), only to lose the part to Leonardo DiCaprio and then win it back again.

2. Is an excellent horseman and an avid reader.

3. He trained for 10 weeks in dancing and martial arts for the dance sequences in Newsies (1992) and Swing Kids (1993).

4. He has an uncanny ear for accents.

5. Bale was handpicked by Winona Ryder for the coveted role of Laurie (Theodore Laurence) in Little Women (1994).

6. His father, David Bale, married feminist icon Gloria Steinem on September 3, 2000.

7. A devoted animal lover, Christian has two dogs [Mojo and Ramone] and three cats [Miriam, Molly, and Lilly], which are all strays that he found.

8. Christian is active in many organizations, including Ark Trust, Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Foundation, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the Redwings Sanctuary, and the Happy Child Mission, and a school for street kids in Rio De Janeiro.

9. His grandfather doubled for John Wayne in two movies, in Africa.

10. His first on-screen role was in 1983 at age 9 in a British commercial for Pac-Man cereal.

11. He replaced Leonardo DiCaprio for the film American Psycho (2000).

12. Stepson of feminist author Gloria Steinem

13. His father, David Bale, died on 30 December 2003, from brain lymphoma at the age of 62.

14. He was raised in England, Portugal and California.

15. His great-uncle, Rex Bale, was an actor.

16. His father was a former commercial pilot.

17. His mother was a former circus dancer.

18. He has three sisters: musician Erin Bale; computer professional Sharon Bale; and director/actress Louise Bale, who appeared in Newsies (1992).

19. His grandfather was a stand-up comic and children's entertainer.

20. Met his wife through Winona Ryder; she was Ryder's personal assistant.

21. With Batman Begins (2005), he has become the seventh actor to play Batman/Bruce Wayne in a live-action film. The others were: Lewis Wilson in 1943's, Robert Lowery in 1949, Adam West in the 1966, Michael Keaton for the first two installments of the Batman film series, to be replaced by Val Kilmer and George Clooney.

22. Dropped an amazing 63 pounds for his role as the emaciated insomniac Trevor Reznik in the film The Machinist (2004) with only a single vitamin consultation with a nutritionist to guide him. For the most part, he only ate salads and apples, chewed gum, smoked cigarettes, and drank nonfat lattes.

23. Considered getting formal acting training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) when he was twenty, but decided to focus on working instead.

24. Has been in 2 versions of the John Smith/Pocahontas story. He provides the voice of Thomas in Pocahontas (1995) and plays John Rolfe in The New World (2005).

25. Turned down the opportunity to reprise the role of Patrick Bateman in the Roger Avary-directed The Rules of Attraction (2002).

26. His wife, Sibi Blazic, gave birth to the couple's first child, a girl named Emmaline Bale. The baby was born 27 March, 2005 in Santa Monica, California.

27. In the "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" radio interview first aired June 13, 2005, he admitted to Gross that because Batman is "such an American icon", he had decided not to perform his promotional interviews for the movie Batman Begins (2005) in his natural mixed Welsh/English accent. Instead he spoke to Gross in an almost inflection-less mid-American accent, only revealing his dialectic roots with a few words.

28. Has 3 older sisters: Erin Bale, Sharon Bale & Louise Bale.

29. Two of his most famous character's names have a difference of only one letter. Bateman and Batman.

30. Since a young age he was very ambitious about attending Drama School, and auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and the Central School of Speech And Drama at the age of twenty. He was accepted to all, but was convinced by his parents to continue working instead. To this day, he regrets not attending drama school for his personal passion of learning his craft.

31. The nameplate on his trailer for Batman Begins (2005) read "Bruce Wayne" as opposed to Bale's name.

32. First non-American actor to portray Batman/Bruce Wayne.

33. Is the youngest actor to portray Batman.

34. Owned a home he shared with his sister, Louise Bale, in Manhattan Beach.

35. Before he played "Batman" in Batman Begins (2005), his sister Louise Bale played Batman's mother in The Death of Batman (2003).

36. Auditioned for the role of Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997) and almost got the role but people felt that it wouldn't be "fair" having two Brits playing two Americans (Rose was American as well, she says in the movie that the Titanic was a slave ship bring her back to America).

37. Considered for the role of Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

38. Is a distant relative to the 19th-Century thespian Lily Langtry.

39. Shares the role of Batman with Val Kilmer.

40. Since reading "Charlotte's Web", he does not eat red meat.

41. If he plays an American character, he will use an American accent in all the interviews related to the film. He says he does this so the audience isn't confused.

42. Daughter Emmaline, born 27 March 2005.

43. Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#13). [2007].

44. Although born in Wales, his family is actually English. In 1976, when Bale was two years old, his family left Wales and returned to England.

45. Was good friends with actor Heath Ledger.

46. His fans refer to themselves as "Baleheads".

47. His father was an activist and adventurer and his mother a circus dancer so he never lived in one place for very long while growing up.

48. A very private individual, he has never publicly confirmed the name of his daughter.

49. Beat out nearly 4,000 other auditions for the role of Jim Graham in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun (1987).

50. Was introduced to acting by his sister, Louise.

51. Alongside Michael Keaton, he is the only other actor to portray Bruce Wayne/Batman in more than one live action film.

52. Took up vegetarianism at the age of six but has since returned to eating meat.

53. Lives in Los Angeles with his family.

54. Was arrested over verbal assault allegations made by his mother and his sister just hours after he attended the European premiere of his movie The Dark Knight (2008) in London. Upon reviewing the case, the London police decided not to charge him with anything. [July 2008]

55. While working on Schindler's List, Steven Spielberg paid a visit to Bale on the set of Swing Kids (1993), as both movies were partially filmed in Prague.

56. Was considered for the part of James Bond in Casino Royale (2006).

57. Has said that he considers it an honor to have been called a "mofo" by Samuel L. Jackson in a movie.

58. C.Bale and wife belong to Board of Trustees in The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

59. Dislikes doing interviews.

60. Met Drew Barrymore on the set of 'Empire of the Sun' 1987_, who was visiting her godfather, Steven Spielberg. He was thirteen and she was twelve. Later they would both admit to having a crush on one another at the time.

61. He was involved in already infamous incident where he was recorded verbally assaulting cinematographer Shane Hurlbut on the set of Terminator Salvation (2009) for interrupting him during an intense scene. Bale has since apologized, but the incident was widely heard across the Internet.

62. Is an avid fan of video games and cites Super Mario as one of his all-time favorites growing up.

63. Lives in Santa Monica, California.

64. Appears in Batman Begins (2005) and Terminator Salvation (2009). Both were follow-ups to earlier films (Batman & Robin (1997) and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)) that had starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

65. He and fellow Batman George Clooney both started their careers working for Steven Spielberg. Bale appeared in Empire of the Sun (1987), and Clooney appeared on "ER" (1994), which Spielberg produced. Empire of the Sun (1987) was a product Spielberg undertook under the encouragement of David Lean, who is one of Spielberg's favorite directors. Clooney also has a connection to David Lean: his uncle, José Ferrer, appeared in Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

66. Appears in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) opposite Gary Oldman and Anne Hathaway, as Commissioner Gordon and Selina Kyle, respectively. He has also worked with both of their predecessors: Pat Hingle in Shaft (2000) and Michelle Pfeiffer in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999). Hingle and Pfeiffer, for their parts, have worked with all three previous Batmans. Pfeiffer worked with Michael Keaton in Batman Returns (1992), Val Kilmer in The Prince of Egypt (1998), and George Clooney in One Fine Day (1996). Hingle, of course, appeared in all the previous Batman films.

67. In 1984, he made his stage debut in the West End play The Nerd, opposite Rowan Atkinson.

68. Is the second Batman to win an Oscar. George Clooney won Best Supporting Actor for Syriana (2005), and he also won Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter (2010).

69. Appeared twice on the cover of GQ magazine: March '07 and June '09.

70. Was compared to a young Steve McQueen by Steven Spielberg, while filming Empire of the Sun (1987).