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Christian Bale stands as a towering figure in Hollywood, celebrated for his remarkable talent and memorable roles in some of the era’s most acclaimed films. While many recognize him as the iconic Batman in Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy, fewer may recall that his journey began as a child actor. At the tender age of 13, Bale made his cinematic debut in Steven Spielberg’s compelling World War II drama, “Empire of the Sun.”
Warner Bros.
This film tells the story of Jim Graham (portrayed by Bale), a young British boy from a privileged background. His life takes a dramatic turn when, during a visit with relatives in Shanghai, the Japanese invade China. Jim is captured and sent to an internment camp, where he befriends Basie, an older sailor played by John Malkovich, who becomes a mentor amidst the turmoil surrounding them.
“Empire of the Sun” is a deeply moving narrative about resilience and the human spirit. Although it may not be the most heralded of Spielberg’s works, it holds a special place with critics, boasting a Certified Fresh rating of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film features a powerful score by the acclaimed composer John Williams. For history enthusiasts, it is worth noting that the movie draws inspiration from J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, with Ballard himself making a cameo appearance.
Following his debut in Spielberg’s film, Bale ventured into other projects, including the Disney musical “Newsies”—originally not intended to be a musical—and later appeared in “Swing Kids,” “Little Women,” and “Velvet Goldmine.” The pivotal moment in his career came with his portrayal of Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film “American Psycho.” However, Bale confessed in an interview with The Talks that the demanding experience of working on “Empire of the Sun” nearly led him to abandon acting altogether.
Bale reflected on the challenges of entering the Hollywood scene at such a young age, despite having a “wonderful time” working with Spielberg. The overwhelming attention he received was daunting. “As a teenager, you should be completely anonymous,” he remarked, cautioning against young children entering such an adult industry. Fortunately, his flirtation with retirement was short-lived, though he admitted that his passion for acting waned for some time. “I sort of dabbled, I did parts here and there, but my heart wasn’t really in it for quite a long time after that,” he revealed.
Empire of the Sun almost made Bale quit acting
Warner Bros.
After making his big screen debut in Stephen Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun,” Christian Bale went on to star in the Disney musical “Newsies” (which wasn’t even supposed to be a musical) and, over the next decade, he appeared in the likes of “Swing Kids,” “Little Women,” and “Velvet Goldmine” ahead of his career-altering turn as Patrick Bateman in 2000’s “American Psycho.” But, believe it or not, Bale almost never had an acting career at all after “Empire of the Sun.” In an interview with The Talks, the Welsh star admitted that working on the film was so taxing that he nearly called it quits there and then.
Bale explained to the outlet that, while he had a “wonderful time” with Spielberg, the experience of starring in a Hollywood production was a lot for someone so young, as was the attention that came with it. “You’re a teenager. You should be completely anonymous. I think it’s not really great for kids to go into such an adult profession at such a young age,” he said. Thankfully, Bale’s close call with retirement from acting didn’t last, but he does admit that he came closer to leaving Tinseltown than people probably realized. “I sort of dabbled, I did parts here and there, but my heart wasn’t really in it for quite a long time after that.”
