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

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.
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Edited by Sangeeta Mathew