Deluxe
Magazine - 1998
Christian Evangelism By Sarah Bailey
The
first time you meet Christian Bale he will be wanking. The role of
Arthur in VELVET GOLDMINE (Todd Haynes' lavish love letter to '70s
glit-rock out next month) requires this. Overcome by his passion for
glam, the boy from the 'burbs relieves himself over his Brian Slade
albums, flees home and finds fulfillment hanging in London's Glam
clubs. His portrayal of a fan-on-the-fringes also provides a way in
to a movie which some might find too arthouse to sit through (plot
like an onion, high leotard count, Orson Welles homage); "A lot
of people who grew up in that era have said, 'You were me. That was
exactly what we went through.' Which is lovely to hear. They also
say, 'Magnificent wanking scene. Ooh, he does a great wank
scene.'"
Despite
a career as a child star (in "The Nerd" opposite Rowan
Atkinson aged 10; 'Empire of the Sun' aged 13) it's Bale's attitude
to acting that seals your faith in him. During the shoot for 'Metroland'
(in which he plays three ages of Suburban Man, out this month)
co-star Emily Watson nicknamed him Tanty (he threw a tantrum when a
journalist tried to interview him in his pyjamas). He curls his lip
talking about Leonardo DiCaprio, too (currently toying with the part
of Partick Bateman in 'American Psycho', a role which Bale spent six
months bulking up for).
"I
can't stand gyms, I just made myself learn to love it," he says
through a mouthful of brie sandwich. "You do become obsessive
looking at everyone else thinking, 'Ooh their skin could do with a
bit of tightening up.' I did become the arsehole that I've always
despised." And yet that's the very appealing thing about
Christian Bale. He may have lived in Hollywood since he was a
teenager, yet he's managed to remain almost sane. He says through
two uneven rows of distinctly un-Californian serrated-edge teeth:
"I hate going shopping. I surf on occasion, but I almost
drown...The Americanisation of me is that I've bought a shotgun. I
go out shooting rollerbladers."
