Christian Bale

An even larger fan base of "Baleheads" was to grow as the actor, having just completed filming of The Machinist, was cast as Batman in the new Christopher Nolan-directed film series (beating out a number of other Hollywood stars including the heavily favored Jake Gyllenhaal).
The role required a now emaciated Bale to quickly bulk up for the lead role in Batman Begins, which earned him wide critical praise for his dual portrayal as Bruce Wayne/Batman - and for which he received a "Best Hero" award a year later from a young movie-going public at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards. Bale also provided the voice of Batman for the equally successful video game based on the film.


Following the success of Batman Begins, Bale returned to smaller, independent films such as the critically praised Harsh Times in 2006, and in a secondary role in The New World starring Colin Farrell, along with lead roles in Rescue Dawn and The Prestige starring with Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson.
Bale next appeared in the highly-anticipated sequal in the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight, co-starring Heath Ledger as The Joker, released on July 18, 2008.
In addition to The Dark Knight, in 2008 Bale appeared in I'm Not There, a biopic of muscian Bob Dylan, and co-starred with Aussie actor Russell Crowe in 3:10 to Yuma.
Coming up, he will also star as John Connor in the next installment in the Terminator franchise Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins slated for May 2009 release.
Family Life, Arrest News

Away from the movie studio, Bale is married to former model Sibi Blazic and has a daughter, Emmaline born in 2005.
Making headlines over assault charges against his mother and sister in July 2008, Bale was arrested and questioned over the incident in a London hotel. Representatives for Bale later released a statement denying that an assault ever took place.