Christian Bale

Adjusting to fame and his difficulties with attention (he thought about quitting acting early on), Bale appeared in Kenneth Branagh's 1989 adaptation of Shakespeare's Henrique V (1989) and starred as Jim Hawkins in a TV movie version of A Ilha do Tesouro (1990). Bale worked consistently through the 1990s, acting and singing in Extra! Extra! (1992), Os Últimos Rebeldes (1993), Adoráveis Mulheres (1994), Retratos de uma Mulher (1996), O Agente Secreto (1996), Reflexos do Passado (1997), Velvet Goldmine (1998), Todos São Animais (1998), and Sonho de uma Noite de Verão (1999). Toward the end of the decade, with the rise of the Internet, Bale found himself becoming one of the most popular online celebrities around, though he, with a couple notable exceptions, maintained a private, tabloid-free mystique.

Bale roared into the next decade with a lead role in Psicopata Americano (2000), director Mary Harron's adaptation of the controversial Bret Easton Ellis novel. In the film, Bale played a murderous Wall Street executive obsessed with his own physicality - a trait for which Bale would become a specialist. Subsequently, the 10th Anniversary issue for "Entertainment Weekly" crowned Bale one of the "Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures" of the past decade, citing his cult status on the Internet. EW also called Bale one of the "Most Creative People in Entertainment", and "Premiere" lauded him as one of the "Hottest Leading Men Under 30".

Bale was truly on the Hollywood radar at this time, and he turned in a range of performances in the remake Shaft (2000), O Capitão Corelli (2001), the balmy Laurel Canyon - A Rua das Tentações (2002), and Reino de Fogo (2002), a dragons-and-magic commercial misfire that has its share of defenders.

Two more cult films followed: Equilibrium (2002) and O Operário (2004), the latter of which gained attention mainly due to Bale's physical transformation - he dropped a reported 60+ pounds for the role of a lathe operator with a secret that causes him to suffer from insomnia for over a year.

Bale's abilities to transform his body and to disappear into a character influenced the decision to cast him in Batman Begins (2005), the first chapter in Christopher Nolan's definitive trilogy that proved a dark-themed narrative could resonate with audiences worldwide. The film also resurrected a character that had been shelved by Warner Bros. after a series of demising returns, capped off by the commercial and critical failure of Batman & Robin (1997). A quiet, personal victory for Bale: he accepted the role after the passing of his father in late 2003, an event that caused him to question whether he would continue performing.

Bale segued into two indie features in the wake of Batman's phenomenal success: O Novo Mundo (2005) and Tempos de Violência (2005). He continued working with respected independent directors in 2006's O Sobrevivente (2006), Werner Herzog's feature version of his earlier, Emmy-nominated documentary, O Pequeno Dieter Precisa Voar (1997). Leading up to the second Batman film, Bale starred in O Grande Truque (2006), the remake of Os Indomáveis (2007), and a reunion with director Todd Haynes in the experimental Bob Dylan biography, Não Estou Lá (2007).

Anticipation for Batman: O Cavaleiro das Trevas (2008) was spun into unexpected heights with the tragic passing of Heath Ledger, whose performance as The Joker became the highlight of the sequel. Bale's graceful statements to the press reminded us of the days of the refined Hollywood star as the second installment exceeded the box-office performance of its predecessor.

Bale's next role was the eyebrow-raising decision to take over the role of John Connor in the Schwarzenegger-less O Exterminador do Futuro: A Salvação (2009), followed by a turn as federal agent Melvin Purvis in Michael Mann's Inimigos Públicos (2009). Both films were hits but not the blockbusters they were expected to be.

For all his acclaim and box-office triumphs, Bale would earn his first Oscar in 2011 in the wake of O Vencedor (2010)'s critical and commercial success. Bale earned the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund, brother to and trainer of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg. Bale again showed his ability to reshape his body with another gaunt, skeletal transformation.

Bale then turned to another auteur, Yimou Zhang, for the epic Flores do Oriente (2011), in which Bale portrayed a priest trapped in the midst of the Rape of Nanking. Bale earned headlines for his attempt to visit with Chinese civil-rights activist Chen Guangcheng, which was blocked by the Chinese government.

Bale capped his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman: O Cavaleiro das Trevas Ressurge (2012); in the wake of the Aurora, Colorado tragedy, Bale made a quiet pilgrimage to the state to visit with survivors of the attack that left theatergoers dead and injured. He also starred in the thriller Tudo por Justiça (2013) with Coração Louco (2009) writer/director Scott Cooper, and the drama-comedy Trapaça (2013), reuniting with David O. Russell.

Bale will re-team with O Novo Mundo (2005) director Terrence Malick for two upcoming projects: Cavaleiro de Copas (2015) and an as-yet-untitled drama.

In his personal life, he devotes time to charities including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Foundation. He lives with his wife, Sibi Blazic, and their two children.