▲Christian Bale's character, Captain Blocker, is seen as a racist and ruthless killer. However, Blocker changes through the film, making him something of an anti-hero.

▲In 'Vice,' Bale plays 46th US Vice President Cheney. Bale has gone back and forth on whether he sympathizes with the character, but the general perception of Cheney is negative.

▲Bale played a con artist in this crime comedy, scamming his way to the top. He's a dodgy guy with a heart of (counterfeit) gold—a true anti-hero.

▲In 'Out of the Furnace,' Bale plays Russell Baze, a man who desperately searches for his missing brother. He's a grizzly, complex character, but let's call him an anti-hero.

▲In 'The Big Short,' the actor played Michael Burry, an introvert who discovers the bubble in America's housing market. He isn't the most moral character, but you can't help but root for Burry in the film.

▲You don't have to read the Bible to know that Moses was a pretty good guy. 'Exodus' centers on the character, and shows him as a complicated hero during Biblical times.

▲Bale joined an all-star cast in this artsy Bob Dylan biopic. His character, Jack Rollins, is complex. He starts off as a heroic protest singer, who later defames himself and converts to Christianity. All in all, Rollins is a bit of a villain.

▲Initially, you can't help but root for Bale's character in 'The Prestige.' However, his kind character gets corrupted, and you leave the film wondering if he was a hero, villain, or both.

▲Bale starred alongside Johnny Depp in 'Public Enemies,' playing FBI agent Melvin Purvis. Bale works against the anti-hero, making him the villain.

▲'Howl's Moving Castle' was a change of pace for Bale. In the English dub, he voiced the titular Howl, a bizarre wizard with incredible abilities. Strange guy, but a real hero.

▲In this Western remake, Bale stars as the heroic Dan Evans, a one-legged veteran-turned-rancher. He spends his days hunting the ruthless Ben Wade, who leads a group of outlaws.

▲Set in the far future, feelings and artistic expression are illegal in 'Equilibrium.' Bale starts off as a stern (involuntary) villain, who eventually starts to feel emotions and changes his life for the better.

▲Bale is a thrill in 'The Machinist.' He stars as a paranoid and distressed worker, who descends into madness. You root for him, but ultimately Reznik is pretty villainous.

▲In 'The New World,' Bale played John Rolfe, who helps Pocahontas adjust to life in New England. He plays a kind and sympathetic character.

▲That's right, Bale's been involved in the 'Pocahontas' world before. He voiced Thomas, the loyal friend of protagonist John Smith, in the 1995 animated film.

▲Christian Bale is hardly the hero in 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin.' He plays Mandras, the fiancé of Pelagia, who causes a great deal of heartbreak. However, he redeems himself throughout the story.

▲Another dark moment for the actor happened back in 2008. Bale was accused of assault by his mother and sister at The Dorchester hotel. However, the charges were eventually dismissed, and Bale denied that an assault took place.

▲In this action-packed remake, the actor plays a heartless heir who commits a racially-motivated murder. Villain, of course.

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On the other hand, Bale has shown his good side in many ways. He supports many environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund. Furthermore, along with his wife Sibi Blazic, Bale is on the Board of Trustees for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

▲One of Bale's most complicated characters is Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.' He's a psychopathic murderer, making him a villain on paper. But Bale's irresistible performance ultimately makes Bateman an anti-hero.

▲Bale's first starring role was at the age of 13 in Steven Spielberg's 'Empire of the Sun.' He played Jamie, who went from being a spoiled kid to a brave hero in Shanghai.

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In this Shakespearean story, the actor plays Demetrius, an unreliable antagonist with a violent temperament.

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Based on a true story, Christian Bale plays Ford driver Ken Miles, an inspiring man who's tasked with winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 against Ferrari.

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'The Promise' is a period drama, in which Bale plays Chris Myers, a journalist who gets entangled in a love triangle. He certainly played a heroic character in this film.

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More grit in 'The Fighter,' with Bale playing a drug-addicted ex-boxer who trains his brother, Micky Ward. Another complex character for Bale, going from hero to villain to hero again.

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In this 'Jungle Book' remake, the actor voiced Bagheera, the protective panther who guides Mowgli through the jungle. A hero for sure.

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Bale plays the protagonist in 'Reign of Fire.' As Quinn Abercromby, Bale leads a group of survivors who band together against invading dragons.

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Bale stars as John Connor in 'Terminator Salvation.' Despite Bale's antics behind-the-scenes, his character is a true hero.

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For 'Rescue Dawn,' the actor starred as the heroic Lt. Dieter Dengler, an American Navy pilot who refuses to betray his country after getting captured by the Pathet Lao in Laos.

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Bale had previously starred in 'Batman Begins,' but 'The Dark Knight' offers a more complex look at the Batman character. He has his flaws, but you can't deny that Batman is a real superhero.

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He's arguably one of the greatest actors of his generation, and a box office draw too. From Batman to Bateman, Christian Bale has always portrayed polarizing people. That's not to mention his also at times conflicting personal life. All this begs the question: is Christian Bale a hero, or villain? Click on to find out.

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That's it for Bale's characters. But what about his personal life? He's had highs, but he's also certainly had lows, like when he lashed out at cinematographer Shane Hurlbut on the set of 'Terminator Salvation.' The audio leaked, and Bale apologized for his angry comments.

Christian Bale: Hollywood hero, or villain?

The A-list actor turns 49 this January 30

30/01/23 por StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Retrospective

He's arguably one of the greatest actors of his generation, and a box-office draw too. From Batman to Bateman, Christian Bale has always portrayed polarizing people. That's not to mention his also at times conflicting personal life. All this begs the question: is Christian Bale a hero, or villain? Click on to find out.