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Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Email Print Reprints Read Exclusive: Corruption charges to feature in WikiLeaks release 24 Nov 2010 UPDATE 2-Oracle ruling slams SAP's reputation 24 Nov 2010 South Korea strengthens military near border after attack | 2:30am EST N.Korea warns of new attacks for Seoul "provocations" 24 Nov 2010 Analysis: N.Korea crisis latest blow to Obama's nuclear agenda 24 Nov 2010 Discussed 192 Obama’s Democrats in disarray over expiring tax cuts 96 Obama’s 2012 re-election prospects uncertain: poll 67 Wesley Snipes ordered to prison for tax conviction Watched Bejeweled bra exposed in NY Thu, Oct 21 2010 Row over vote orgasm video Fri, Nov 19 2010 S. Korea: shelling 'provocation' Tue, Nov 23 2010 show business Paula Abdul promotes new Web venture The former "American Idol" judge has launched AuditionBooth, an online platform she co-founded to connect aspiring talents with casting directors, producers and managers. Full Article Ashton Kutcher funds Fashism The marketing magic behind Harry Potter The great "Contender" - Christian Bale cracks wise Tweet This Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook By Jenelle Riley LOS ANGELES (Back Stage) - As Christian Bale reluctantly soaks in the acclaim for his role in the upcoming drama "The Fighter," one of the people he should thank is his daughter. It was at an event for her school that Bale ran into... Related News Mark Wahlberg's Fighter could have been a contender Tue, Nov 23 2010 Horror films no longer bad career move for actors Tue, Nov 2 2010 Related Topics Fashion » Entertainment » Zagat Power Lunches » Film » By Jenelle Riley Thu Nov 25, 2010 1:02am EST LOS ANGELES (Back Stage) - As Christian Bale reluctantly soaks in the acclaim for his role in the upcoming drama "The Fighter," one of the people he should thank is his daughter. It was at an event for her school that Bale ran into Mark Wahlberg, whose daughter is a fellow student. Wahlberg had spent years developing his true-story movie about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his offbeat, often overbearing family. Wahlberg knew he needed the perfect actor to portray Ward's half-brother and trainer, Dickie Eklund, a once-great pugilist who had lost his career to a crippling addiction to crack. "The first time I saw Christian," Wahlberg recalls of their chance encounter, "I was like, 'Holy f---! I've figured it out.'" Before long, Wahlberg and Bale were spending time in Lowell, Mass., where Ward and Eklund still live, getting to know the brothers and their family. Wahlberg and Bale also had to choose a director, and it was Bale who first suggested David O. Russell, with whom Wahlberg had previously worked on "Three Kings" and "I Heart Huckabees." Recalls Bale, "Mark said he didn't want me to feel he was just going with a buddy of his, but I said, 'No, let's give him a call.' So we sat down, and it was right." While the script continued to develop, Ward and Eklund spent weeks in Los Angeles, staying in Wahlberg's guest house. "We would meet up every day," Bale reveals, "just to train and spar and hang out together." The commitment paid off; in the film, opening December 10, Bale is almost unrecognizable as Eklund. The character's body ravaged by drugs, Bale is gaunt and pale, his teeth are fake, and his thinning hair reveals a sizable bald spot on the back of his head. But the performance transcends mere physical transformation, digging deeply into the soul of a man who lost his shot at glory. Hiding his whip-smart intelligence behind hollow eyes, Bale perfectly captures Eklund's jealousy, selfishness, and unwavering love for his brother -- sometimes in the same moment. Bale is now back up to his normal weight, and sports a thick beard and long hair that remind you he once played Jesus in a 1999 TV movie. He hasn't cut his hair since filming wrapped on "The Fighter," saying he likes to grow it out between roles in case he needs a certain style for his next character. In his early years, the Welsh-born actor seemed determined to avoid major Hollywood stardom by seeking out roles in small, quirky films such as "American Psycho" and "The Machinist." It only partially worked: At one time, he was the most downloaded celebrity on the Internet, a fact that seems to mortify him to this day. Then, just when people thought they had him pegged as the serious indie film guy, he signed on to play Batman in one of the biggest franchises in film history. After that, it became impossible to predict what Bale would do next: He could team with Werner Herzog for the small drama "Rescue Dawn," then turn around and take the lead in the action blockbuster "Terminator: Salvation." His role in that film was overshadowed by controversy when audio surfaced of Bale deriding a crew member on set, sealing his reputation for uberseriousness. But he actually has a wicked, self-deprecating sense of humor. Though the character of Eklund takes Bale to dark places on screen, it also provides the actor with a rare opportunity to showcase his comedic skills. A born raconteur, Eklund gets laughs not only from his outrageous statements but also from actions, like repeatedly jumping out the back window of a crack house to avoid his mother. For Bale, having a touch of levity in the story was essential to the tale. "Tragedy goes with comedy, and that's never truer than in the case of Dickie," Bale says. "We actually had to pull back on some of the comedy, because we were afraid people wouldn't believe some of these crazy situations he got himself into." Repeat the popular rumor that he disappeared between scenes on the set of "The Fighter," only to emerge like a ghost whenever he was needed, and Bale can't resist a smile. "I like that rumor," he nods. "Some rumors are so great, I'd rather not dispel them. I can laugh at them -- not all of them, but most of them." But raising the possibility that Bale could now secure his first Academy Award nomination makes him visibly uncomfortable. "Of course I've heard it," he confesses. "There are people who work on movies called producers, and they make sure I hear it. But I also know there's going to be people who see me and don't like what I do." Try to push the subject further, and he finally says, "Here's the thing. You should never talk about stuff like that because no matter what answer you give, you're a cock. If you say you don't care about any of that -- well, why not? It's flattering, it's human. Or you can say, 'I really want it.' And who do you think you are? You just can't talk about it either way." Fashion Entertainment Zagat Power Lunches Film Add a Comment *We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

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