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'Ford v Ferrari' -

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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'Vice' - 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.

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'The Big Short' - 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.

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'American Hustle' - 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.

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'Exodus: Gods and Kings' - 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.

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'Hostiles' - 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.

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'Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle' -

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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'The Promise' -

'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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'The Fighter' -

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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'Out of the Furnace' - 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.

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

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'Terminator Salvation' -

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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'The Dark Knight' -

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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'I'm Not There' - 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.

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'3:10 to Yuma' - 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.

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'The Prestige' - 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.

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'Rescue Dawn' -

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

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'Howl's Moving Castle' - '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.

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'The Machinist' - 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.

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'Equilibrium' - 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.

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'Reign of Fire' -

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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'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' - 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.

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

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'American Psycho' - 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.

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'A Midsummer Night's Dream' -

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

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'Pocahontas' - 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.

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'Empire of the Sun' - 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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Personal life -

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.

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Personal life - 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.

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Personal life -

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.

See also: Ben, Bale, and other men who became Batman

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