Apples and Tuna Helped Christian Bale Lose 63 Pounds
Movie roles often require actors to dramatically transform their bodies by either gaining or losing weight, and Christian Bale rose to the challenge by losing 63 pounds from his 173 pound frame in order to star in the title role in “The Machinist,” according to reports.
Although Bale insisted he was willing to get his weight down to 100 pounds on his 6 foot 3 inch frame, doctors would not allow him to go beyond 110 pounds out of fear that he might cause permanent damage to his health. In order to lose the weight as quickly as possible, his diet was limited to a can of tuna fish and one fresh apple a day.
Within 9 months he had reached his goal weight of 110 pounds and his rapid 63 pound weight loss is considered the most weight lost by any actor for a movie role. For his next role after “The Machinist”, Bale reversed the process and gained 100 pounds.
After the Machinist, Bale hired a personal trainer to help him gain 100 pounds (45 kg) in the span of only a couple of months to help him physically prepare for the role of Batman in 2005.
He first went well over the weight required and created concern over whether he would look right for the part. Bale recognized that his large physique was not appropriate for Batman, who relies on speed and strategy. He lost the excess weight by the time filming began.
