Christian Bale on His Batman Portrayal: ‘I Didn’t Quite Nail It’
Christian Bale wasn’t quite satisfied with his performance as Batman in the “Dark Knight” trilogy.
While promoting his new film “Knight of Cups,” Bale talked to Yahoo about how he felt he didn’t hit the acting goals he set for himself as the Caped Crusader.
“I didn’t quite manage what I hoped I would through the trilogy,” he said. “(Director Christopher Nolan) did, but my own sense of self is like, ‘I didn’t quite nail it.’ ”
What did Bale hope to accomplish that he felt he didn’t? He wanted to show the twisted nature of the hero. “Batman, he’s this very, very dark, messed-up character,” the actor said. “I found when I put on the suit I went, ‘I just feel like a bloody idiot if I don’t use this as a means to kind of (show) his true, monstrous self that he allows to come out in that moment.’ ”
Bale attributed the late Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker as a factor in his dissatisfaction with his own portrayal.
“Heath turned up and just kind of completely ruined all my plans,” Bale said. “I went, ‘He’s so much more interesting than me and what I’m doing.'”
The Bat-mania that started with the “Dark Knight” trilogy hasn’t died down over the years. The latest film featuring Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” is set to open to massive numbers on March 25.
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