“Art is something to be proud of. Art is no compromise. As an actor, you're giving it up, you're at the mercy of so many other people.” PeopleGivingArtActorsProudArt IsMercyCompromiseBe ProudNo Compromise Author:Christian Bale
“Being misunderstood is not a bad thing as an actor. I know the truth.” KnowsActorsBad ThingsMisunderstoodBeing MisunderstoodI Know The Truth Author:Christian Bale
“I know a lot of other actors that don't like to look at other references to their characters and things. But I like it. I always look at everything, I read all the books. I read Dieter's "Escape from Laos." I watched the documentary again and again and again. I recorded it just to listen to him a lot. I just don't suffer from feeling like I'm getting caught into an imitation. I just feel like I want to steal some good stuff if it's in there.” IfsKnowsWantFeelsLooksBookCharacterFeelingsSufferingActorsStuffCaughtStealingAgain And AgainImitationDocumentariesLaos Author:Christian Bale
“I think there's a limited amount of planning you can do, at least in the position I'm in. Maybe more successful actors can plan more than I'm able to.” ThinkingAbleActorsCan DoSuccessfulPlansPositionAmountPlanning Author:Christian Bale
“There's a level of confidence in the actor you're working with that really helps a lot. It makes all the difference.” HelpingActorsDifferencesLevels Author:Christian Bale
“Personally, I love going to see a film when you can really watch a character. If you've just read some article about who the actor is sleeping with, that's gonna be at the back of your mind all the time while you're watching the film.” IfsMindCharacterFilmActorsSleepWatchesArticles Author:Christian Bale
“An actor should never be larger than the film he's in.” ShouldFilmActorsActing Author:Christian Bale
“How serious can a movie about time-traveling robots be? You want it to be cool and fun.” WantActorsFunSeriousMovieBe YouTime TravelRobotsBeing Cool Author:Christian Bale
“I start from scratch with each movie; I wipe the slate and I certainly don't rely on some bag of acting tricks I've amassed over the years.” YearsActorsActingTricksRelyMovieBagsScratchesWipeSlate Author:Christian Bale
“I think mostly it's the adventure that I will have in making the movie. That's what I look for.” ThinkingLooksActorsAdventureMovie Author:Christian Bale
“The interesting thing about a movie is the movie.” ActorsInterestingMovieInteresting Things Author:Christian Bale
“A movie star is someone people look at and go, 'I want to be like that person'. There's the responsibility of desire. It's not something I'm interested in trying. I would fail miserably at it, so why even bother?” PeopleWantTryingLooksPersonsDesireActorsStarsResponsibilityFailingBotherMovieMovie Star Author:Christian Bale
“Everyone always tells you that you're the only one that can do this or that role right, and if you say no, they go to somebody else and tell them that they're the only one that can do it right. But when they're talking to you, you're always the 'Best Actor of Your Generation.'” IfsActorsCan DoTalkingRolesGenerations Author:Christian Bale
“I always figure hey, look, I'm not a rock star, I'm an actor. I'm somebody who's meant to be other people and I'm not meant to be here representing myself. I'm happier when I'm presenting myself as other characters.” PeopleLooksCharacterActorsStarsRocksFiguresHeyMeant To BeRock StarRepresentingPresenting Author:Christian Bale
“I'm not an actor that tends to care. I don't ask "Is this a close up? Is this a master? Is this a wide? What are you doing?" If I look up and notice the camera I go "Oh, it's a big one today, must be an IMAX." And that's kinda it for me because it doesn't affect what I'm doing.” IfsLooksBigsCareTodayActorsAsksMastersCamerasWideLook Up Author:Christian Bale
“I've always believed that the director does whatever the hell he wants. That's what you sign on for as an actor - I can't stand it when you have actors who are trying to leverage directors into doing things they don't want to do.” WantTryingDoeI CanActorsHellDirectors Author:Christian Bale
“So yeah, a good director will be able to listen and hear everything, but have a confident vision of his own that he can say, 'oh yeah - that's a great point.' And you never know; often you can help far more than you think you can, because there's so much more that he's juggling than an actor.” ThinkingKnowsHelpingAbleActorsVisionDirectorsYeahJugglingGood Directors Author:Christian Bale
“There are movies where actors aren't characters but movie stars, being cool beyond belief throughout the whole movie. That is what it is. And we reveal ourselves when we act, very often without noticing. But if I can manage to do a character without showing anything of myself, then that's the ultimate goal for me. No leakage.” IfsI CanWholeCharacterActorsBeliefStarsGoalUltimateManageMovie StarNoticingBeing CoolUltimate GoalLeakage Author:Christian Bale
“You're creating a different world and the actor's job is to be able to convince the audience to enter into that world, whether it be actually something that you recognize from your own life or not.” WorldDifferentAbleJobsActorsActingAudienceCreatingConvinceDifferent Worlds Author:Christian Bale
“It's the actors who are prepared to make fools of themselves who are usually the ones who come to mean something to the audience.” InspirationalMeanMotivationalActorsActingAudienceFoolPrepared Author:Christian Bale
“Nuclear apocalypse-who do you need? Actors are probably not top of the list. What can I do for you? I can pretend to be somebody who can grow you some nice crops.” NeedsI CanActorsGrowsNiceListsNuclearApocalypseCropsNuclear BombSome Nice Author:Christian Bale
“I don't want to know about the lives of other actors and I don't want people to know too much about me. If we don't know about the private lives of other actors, that leaves us as clean slates when it comes to playing characters. That's the point, they can create these other characters and I can believe them. I think if you're a good enough actor, that's the way to longevity in the film business. Keep everybody guessing.” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsWayWantBelieveI CanEnoughCharacterFilmActorsToo MuchCleanGood EnoughLongevityPrivate LifeLives Of OthersGuessingSlateClean Slate Author:Christian Bale
“We were incredibly fortunate to get to make three Batman films. That's enough. Let's not get greedy. It's a torch that should be handed from one actor to another. So I enjoy looking forward to what somebody else will come up with.” ShouldEnoughFilmThreeActorsEnjoyCome UpFortunateGreedyLooking ForwardTorches Author:Christian Bale
“I like the idea of movies having a magic element. How many times have you seen an actor in a movie who you know only as the character? It's wonderful, isn't it?” KnowsIdeasCharacterActorsWonderfulMagicElementsWho You Know Author:Christian Bale
“A lot of actors say that theater's the thing for them. And that's great, and I'm not one to speak with any authority about it because of not having done it properly. For me, movies are what I love.” DoneActorsSpeakAuthorityTheater Author:Christian Bale
“I'm an actor I'm not a politician. I always kick myself when I talk too much about family, or personal things.” ActorsToo MuchPoliticianKicksAbout FamilyPersonal Things Author:Christian Bale
“I've always felt that I would rather see an actor, writer, or musician's work, rather than actually know the person. If you know too much about an artist, it somehow lessens their ability to do their work as well.” IfsKnowsWellsPersonsArtistActorsFeltAbilityToo MuchMusician Author:Christian Bale
