19 Best Christian Bale moments to celebrate his 51st birthday

Modified Jan 31, 2025 07:21 ET

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

7. Eating worms in Rescue Dawn to portray the brutal reality of survival (2006)

Rescue Dawn (2006) | Image Source: MGM Studios

In Rescue Dawn (2006), Bale pushed himself to extremes once again: this time he had to consume live worms to portray the brutal truths of survival in the jungle. His portrayal of Dieter Dengler, the Navy pilot held captive in a Laotian prison camp, was a study in endurance and desperation. In particular, the role involved a period of losing immense weight and portrayal of the mental and physical costs of imprisonment—features that involved a lot more torture than even the worms for Bale.