Christian Bale

If everyone really knew what a jerk I am in real life, I wouldn't be so adored in the slightest.

I only sound intelligent when there's a good script writer around.

I don't think I'm like any of the characters I've played - they're all really far from who I am.

There are occasions when I've pretended to be in a firefight, and then there are people who have really been in a firefight. Clearly it's absolutely ridiculous, and even disrespectful, to suggest that I understand what that is.

I find what I do for a living really funny. I mean, acting is kind of a hilarious thing for a grown man to call a job.

There have been many times when you spend a number of months and the finished product is not what you wanted to see. And 'Batman Begins' was what I wanted to see.

A movie star is someone people look at and go, 'I want to be like that person'. There's the responsibility of desire. It's not something I'm interested in trying. I would fail miserably at it, so why even bother?

I start from scratch with each movie; I wipe the slate and I certainly don't rely on some bag of acting tricks I've amassed over the years.

The interesting thing about a movie is the movie.

The biggest rebellion I could've ever had with my father would be to work in a bank. He would have disowned me. As long as I was doing something where I didn't have to wear a tie, I was good.

Working out is incredibly boring. I swear it's true that the bigger your muscles get, the fewer brain cells you have.

I'm an actor I'm not a politician. I always kick myself when I talk too much about family, or personal things.

What the hell kind of man decides to dress up as a bat and run around the city? There's got to be something a little bit loose in there.

I'm not an actor that tends to care. I don't ask 'Is this a close up? Is this a master? Is this a wide? What are you doing? If I look up and notice the camera I go 'Oh, it's a big one today, must be an IMAX.' And that's kinda it for me because it doesn't affect what I'm doing.

I don't have acknowledged preferences of characters.

It's the actors who are prepared to make fools of themselves who are usually the ones who come to mean something to the audience.

I always figure hey, look, I'm not a rock star, I'm an actor. I'm somebody who's meant to be other people and I'm not meant to be here representing myself. I'm happier when I'm presenting myself as other characters.

And I not only inherited an aversion to the nine-to-five routine, but the sense from my parents that being bored and boring is the worst thing that you can be.

Nuclear apocalypse - who do you need? Actors are probably not top of the list. What can I do for you? I can pretend to be somebody who can grow you some nice crops.

I've always believed that the director does whatever the hell he wants. That's what you sign on for as an actor - I can't stand it when you have actors who are trying to leverage directors into doing things they don't want to do.