19 Best Christian Bale moments to celebrate his 51st birthday

"Vice" Premiere - 69th Berlinale International Film Festival - Source: Getty
"Vice" Premiere - 69th Berlinale International Film Festival - Source: Getty

4. A breakout debut in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun (1987)

Empire of the Sun (1987) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Empire of the Sun (1987) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Christian Bale was only 13 when he first gained recognition, in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun (1987). As Jim "Jamie" 'Boy' Graham, a young British boy marooned in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, Bale produced a performance that was remarkably mature. His grief, loss, and survival depicted the essence of a child placed in adult hardships. There was a depth to Bale that Spielberg would capitalize on and that would define the young actor's career, starting him on a road toward becoming one of Hollywood's most versatile actors.

Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!

Quick Links

Edited by Sangeeta Mathew