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Christian Bale stands as a luminary in Hollywood, celebrated for his exceptional acting prowess in some of the most remarkable films of his era. He is widely recognized for his portrayal of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” series. However, not everyone remembers that Bale’s journey in acting began during his childhood. The Welsh actor made his cinematic debut at the tender age of 13 in Steven Spielberg’s World War II epic “Empire of the Sun.”
Warner Bros.
“Empire of the Sun” narrates the tale of Jim Graham (played by Bale), a young British boy from a privileged background. While visiting relatives in Shanghai, his life is upended when Japan invades China. Jim is captured and placed in an internment camp, where he forms an unlikely friendship with Basie, an experienced sailor portrayed by John Malkovich. Through their bond, Jim learns valuable life lessons amidst the surrounding chaos.
Despite being one of Steven Spielberg’s lesser-acclaimed works, “Empire of the Sun” offers a stirring narrative of resilience. With a Certified Fresh rating of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, it features a mesmerizing score by the legendary composer John Williams. The film is based on J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, with Ballard himself making a cameo appearance, making it a treat for history enthusiasts.
Following his entrance into filmmaking with “Empire of the Sun,” Bale took on roles in the Disney musical “Newsies” (which was originally not intended to be a musical). Over the subsequent decade, he appeared in films such as “Swing Kids,” “Little Women,” and “Velvet Goldmine.” His portrayal of Patrick Bateman in 2000’s “American Psycho” marked a pivotal moment in his career. Interestingly, Bale nearly abandoned acting after “Empire of the Sun.” In an interview with The Talks, he revealed that the demanding nature of the production almost led him to quit.
Bale shared with the publication that despite enjoying his time with Spielberg, the pressures of being in a Hollywood film, especially at a young age, were overwhelming. “As a teenager, you should be navigating life anonymously, not in a profession so adult,” he remarked. Fortunately, Bale’s flirtation with leaving the industry was brief, but he confessed that he was closer to stepping away than many realized. “I sort of dabbled, did parts here and there, but my heart wasn’t really in it for quite a long time after that,” he admitted.
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.”
