Themo Melikidze

Christian Charles Philip Bale is an Oscar-winning British actor. He rose to fame with the 1987 film *Empire of the Sun*, and subsequently became one of Hollywood's leading actors through his roles in films from the late 1990s onwards. Born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, to British parents, his mother Jenny was a circus performer and his South African-born father, David, was a manager and entrepreneur. Bale lived in various parts of Britain and Portugal during his childhood. His parents divorced in 1991. He has three sisters: Erin, Sharon, and Louise. At the age of nine, in 1983, he first appeared on screen in a commercial. After various stage experiences, in 1987, he gained worldwide fame for his role as Jim Graham in Steven Spielberg's *Empire of the Sun*. Sharing the lead with veteran actor John Malkovich, Bale's performance garnered widespread acclaim, earning him the National Board of Review's first and only award for Best Young Actor. In the 90s, he attended college in Southern California, appearing in some films but not focusing primarily on acting. In the early 90s he starred in musicals such as *Newsies* and *Swing Kids*, undertaking 10 weeks of dance and martial arts training for the dance scenes. In 1999, he re-established himself in the film world with *American Psycho*. For his role as the sleepless machinist Trevor Reznik in *The Machinist* (2004), he lost weight to reach 121 pounds (55 kg). Immediately afterward, for the role of Bruce Wayne in *Batman Begins*, the first installment of his long-standing collaboration with Christopher Nolan, he gained 45 pounds in six months. In 2006, he starred in Nolan's *The Prestige* alongside Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. In 2008, he once again played Batman in the critically acclaimed *The Dark Knight*. In 2009, he portrayed another iconic character, John Connor, in *Terminator Salvation*. His role as Dicky Eklund, the brother of boxer Mickey Ward, in the 2010 film *The Fighter*, brought him the biggest success of his career. He won numerous awards, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. In 2012, he appeared in *The Dark Knight Rises*, concluding Nolan's Batman trilogy. Later roles included films such as *American Hustle*, *Exodus*, and *Knight of Cups*. He has been married to Sandra Sibi Blažić, a 1970s-born personal assistant to Winona Ryder, since 2000. They have a daughter, Emmaline (b. 2005), and a son, Joseph (b. 2014). The famous actor is 6'2" (1.88 m) tall. He has lived in Los Angeles since 1992 and is actively involved in various organizations such as Greenpeace.