Christian Bale became infamous in 2009 for launching into an expletive-filled tirade against a director of photography on the set of Terminator: Salvation. A leaked audio recording of Bale’s rant spread rapidly across the internet. Nearly decades later, Bale talked about his meltdown, does the notorious meltdown still bother the intense method actor?
Why Did Christian Bale Blow Up On Set?
In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Bale shrugged when asked if people still mention the incident to him.
“People don’t mention it to me, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t follow me around,” he said.
While Christian Bale himself may not hear about it these days, the meme-worthy meltdown clearly still lingers in public memory.
So what exactly happened on that fateful day back in 2009? Bale was filming an intense scene as John Connor in Terminator: Salvation. But he became enraged when director of photography Shane Hurlbut walked through the shot to adjust some lighting, breaking Bale’s concentration.
What followed was a volcanic explosion from Bale, threatening to quit the $371 million movie if Hurlbut did it again.
“No, don’t just be sorry. Think for one f***ing second,” Bale infamously ranted.
The two later made amends, but the damage was done.
Has Christian Bale Left Behind His Hot Temper?
A mellow Bale shows no hints of a simmering temper these days.
“I’m not aware of it if it does [still follow me around],” he said of the incident.
Bale even laughed it off when asked if he worries about public perception of his notorious mood swings.
“People don’t mention it to me,” he reiterated.
While Bale’s onset outburst may still haunt his reputation over a decade later, the actor himself seems to have moved past it. He even poked fun at his own intensity, saying he finds American Psycho, his chilling serial killer character, “very funny.”
So while the Bale meltdown lives on online, its main star appears to have matured – and gained some self-aware humor about his own fiery image.
Christian Bale’s Extreme Commitment Lives On
While Bale may have matured past his hot temper, he remained as intensely committed to his craft as ever. He was at that time undergoing yet another dramatic physical transformation to play former Vice President Dick Cheney in the upcoming film Backseat.
“I’ve got to stop doing it. I suspect it’s going to take longer to get this off,” Bale said of the weight gain process, which had left him nearly unrecognizable with a shaved head and large belly.
Bale is known for these extreme body metamorphoses to inhabit his roles, ranging from emaciated to muscular to portly. He called it “helpful not to look like yourself” when getting into character.
This shape-shifting strategy has powered some of Bale’s most acclaimed performances, from The Machinist to American Hustle. He even said becoming extremely skinny for roles left him in a “Zen-like state” mentally.
So while Bale may have a cooler head these days when interacting with crew members, he remains wholly committed to his transformative acting process.