He once famously apologised for an explosive on-set tantrum filming Terminator: Salvation where he unleashed an expletive-filled rant at a poor unsuspecting cinematographer.
But Christian Bale refuses to be labelled 'difficult' on set.
In a new GQ interview, the British actor pushed back on having a contentious reputation while admitting he’s 'surprised' to still get offered roles.
Cover star: Christian Bale opens up about being labeled 'difficult' in the Nov. 2022 issue of GQ
During production on the Terminator sequel in 2008, the Oscar-winning actor lashed out at the film’s director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, in an expletive rant and threatened to exit the film.
'What the f*** are you doing? Are you a professional or not?' Bale shouted at Hurlbut in the audio that was famously leaked in 2009.
'You're unbelievable, you're un-f***ing-believable. Number of times you're strolling and f--king around in the background. I've never had a DP behave like this,' the American Psycho star added.
'You don't f***ing understand what it's like working with actors, that's what that is.'
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Acting out: The English star famously went on an expletive-filled tirade during the filming of Terminator: Salvation in 2008
After Hurbult tried to explain why he walked in Bale’s view, the actor got more irritated.
'I’m gonna f***ing kick your f***ing ass,' Bale raged. 'Do you want me to go and trash your lights. Do you want me to go and trash them? Then why are you trashing my scene?'
Bale later apologised to Hurlbut and finished the film.
In the November 2022 issue of GQ, Bale was asked if he regards himself as difficult and immediately responded: 'No. Not in the slightest.’ Without further being prompted, the 48-year-old reiterated: 'Absolutely not, no.'
Although the Vice actor made no reference to the verbal altercation on the Terminator set, he shared gratitude for his esteemed career in Hollywood.
Body of work: Bale underwent a jarring physical transformation for the 2004 film The Machinist
'I’m totally grateful and surprised that I get to keep working, right? And you have to maintain that gratitude,' Bale said. 'But within that gratitude, that mustn’t mean you let standards slip, right?
'It doesn’t mean you start going, "Oh, I’m so happy and grateful to be working at all, because I never expected this in my life," which is all true. But that gratitude must turn into, therefore, I must do things as absolutely well as I possibly can.'
Bale is known for his intense dedication to his acting roles having gone through drastic physical transformations in films like The Machinist and The Fighter.
Golden boy: He scored an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the 2010 film The Fighter
Later in the interview, the father of two further elaborated why he can’t socialise with other actors on the set of his films.
'I just have found that there’s wonderful actors who chat and get to know each other and hang out and then act wonderfully. And I can’t do it. And that’s my own limitations with that,' Bale admitted.
'I don’t make it into a thing. I just sort of know when I’m going to not be able to separate the person from the character that they’re playing.'
The star went on to give a recent example of how he had to keep pleasantries with Chris Rock to a minimum while working on their new film Amsterdam, despite being a huge fan of the comedian.
Red carpet ready: The actor and wife Sibi Blažić at the NYC premiere of his new film Amsterdam in September 2022
'I f***ing love his stand-up,' Bale said of Rock.
'And when he arrived I was like, "Ah, wow, great. Yeah, how you doing, man?" Chatting a little bit. And then I went to do a scene, and I went, "Oh, my God. I’m just Christian, standing here, being a fan of Chris Rock." So, I went to him. I went, "Mate, I got to keep my distance."'
Rock didn’t mince words with his reaction.
'He went, "Oh, you’re pulling the asshole card. You’re going to be an asshole and not talk," Rock said, according to Bale. 'And I went, "Yeah. Sorry, mate." And it was my loss, you know?'
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