Oscar-winner Christian Bale has revealed he first learnt method acting from an unlikely source — Rowan Atkinson.
Bale, 45, who is known for fully transforming into the characters he plays, had his West End break aged 10 alongside Atkinson in Larry Shue’s The Nerd.
He told GQ Atkinson became his acting “template”.
“One of [my] first jobs ever was with Rowan Atkinson and I think I look at him as the template,” he said. “He would come out …and he would just become this character, but before he went on stage.”
Bale added: “I was mesmerised. And then he just stayed in character for the whole night.
“And it wasn’t until the whole thing was finished that he invited me to say hello and that I actually spoke to him for the first time.
Christian Bale – In pictures
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Christian Bale at ‘Hostiles’ photocall in 2017
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Christian Bale in ‘American Hustle’ (2013)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Machinist’ (2004)
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Christian Bale arrives with his wife Sibi Blazic on the red carpet for the film “Hostiles” at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017
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Christian Bale accepts the award for Best Actor in a Comedy for “The Big Short” during the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California in 2016
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Adam McKay kisses Christian Bale as he accepts the award for best comedy for ‘The Big Short’ at the 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards ‘in 2016
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Christian Bale in ‘The Big Short’ (2015) which charts the house price slump that sparked the recession
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A wax figure of Christian Bale at Madame Tussauds in 2014
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Christian Bale at the premiere of the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises at the Odeon Leicester Square, London
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Christian Bale in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Fighter’ with Mark Wahlberg (2011)
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Oscar winners for best supporting actor Christian Bale, best actress Natalie Portman, best supporting actress Melissa Leo, and best actor Colin Firth pose backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood, California in 2011
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Christian Bale in ‘Terminator: Salvation ‘ (2009)
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Christian Bale in ‘Public Enemies’ (2009)
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Christian Bale in 2008
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Christian Bale and Zoe Saldana in ‘Out of the Furnace’
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Christian Bale in ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
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Christian Bale in ‘3:10 to Yuma’ (2007)
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Christian Bale in ‘Rescue Dawn’ (2007)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Prestige’ (2006)
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Christian Bale in ‘Harsh Times’ (2005)
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Christian Bale in ‘Equilibrium’ (2003)
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Christian Bale in ‘Reign Of Fire’ (2002)
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War cry: Christian Bale is Moses, on a mission to free his people from the Egyptians
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Christian Bale in ‘American Psycho’ (2000)
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Christian Bale in ‘American Psycho’ (2000)
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Christian Bale in ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandoli’ (2001)
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Christian Bale in ‘Metroland’ (1998)
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Christian Bale in ‘The News Boys’
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Christian Bale in ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987)
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Christian Bale in Leicester Square for the premiere of ‘Empire of the Sun’
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Christian Bale
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Christian Bale at ‘Hostiles’ photocall in 2017
Rex
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Christian Bale in ‘American Hustle’ (2013)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Machinist’ (2004)
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Christian Bale arrives with his wife Sibi Blazic on the red carpet for the film “Hostiles” at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017
Reuters
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Christian Bale accepts the award for Best Actor in a Comedy for “The Big Short” during the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California in 2016
Reuters
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Adam McKay kisses Christian Bale as he accepts the award for best comedy for ‘The Big Short’ at the 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards ‘in 2016
AP
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Christian Bale in ‘The Big Short’ (2015) which charts the house price slump that sparked the recession
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A wax figure of Christian Bale at Madame Tussauds in 2014
AFP/Getty Images
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Christian Bale at the premiere of the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises at the Odeon Leicester Square, London
PA
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Christian Bale in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Fighter’ with Mark Wahlberg (2011)
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Oscar winners for best supporting actor Christian Bale, best actress Natalie Portman, best supporting actress Melissa Leo, and best actor Colin Firth pose backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood, California in 2011
Reuters
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Christian Bale in ‘Terminator: Salvation ‘ (2009)
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Christian Bale in ‘Public Enemies’ (2009)
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Christian Bale in 2008
AP
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Christian Bale and Zoe Saldana in ‘Out of the Furnace’
AP
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Christian Bale in ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
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Christian Bale in ‘3:10 to Yuma’ (2007)
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Christian Bale in ‘Rescue Dawn’ (2007)
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Christian Bale in ‘The Prestige’ (2006)
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Christian Bale in ‘Harsh Times’ (2005)
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Christian Bale in ‘Equilibrium’ (2003)
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Christian Bale in ‘Reign Of Fire’ (2002)
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War cry: Christian Bale is Moses, on a mission to free his people from the Egyptians
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Christian Bale in ‘American Psycho’ (2000)
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Christian Bale in ‘American Psycho’ (2000)
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Christian Bale in ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandoli’ (2001)
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Christian Bale in ‘Metroland’ (1998)
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Christian Bale in ‘The News Boys’
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Christian Bale in ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987)
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Christian Bale in Leicester Square for the premiere of ‘Empire of the Sun’
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Christian Bale
“It dawned on me that was my learning phase. I went, ‘Oh, that’s how it’s done then, is it? OK, great.’”
Some of Bale’s top roles have involved him dramatically changing his body — he lost 63lb for 2004’s The Machinist, only to put on 100lb and bulk up for Batman Begins six months later.
He also gained 40lb and wore prosthetics for his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Dick Cheney in Vice.
Bale spoke to the magazine with Matt Damon ahead of their film Ford V Ferrari.
Read the full interview in GQ, available Friday
