Christian Bale Opens Up About Heath Ledger As The Joker: "Intense" But "Mellow"

"Batman" himself Christian Bale graces the cover of Details and sat for a lengthy interview. Inside, he talks about his "The Dark Knight" costar Heath Ledger, who plays the Joker.

How did you find working with him?

He was incredibly intense in his performance but incredibly mellow and laid-back. Certainly there was this great anarchistic streak to it--just getting dirtier than anybody's envisioned the Joker before. This character has power because he has no limits--absolutely nothing to lose.

How has Ledger's death changed the way you look at the film?
Naturally it was something I wanted to share with him--and expected to do so. And I can't do anything else but hope that it will be an absolutely appropriate celebration of his work.

The normally private actor also talked about fame:

I was at the Science Museum in London with my daughter and some of her friends, and they wanted hot dogs. And so I went up to a hot-dog stand and I said, "Can I have three hot dogs?" They said, "I'm sorry, we're closed." And so I started walking away. And then one of them said, "Excuse me, are you Batman?" And I said, "Well, I play Batman." And they said, "Well, here's three hot dogs--on the house." That's pretty remarkable, isn't it?

Watch "The Dark Knight" Trailer:

Comments

[aceholiday]

damn good man

[ndolomar]

Yum, yum. Just friggin' yum. (Sorry, I can't help it; it's Bale.)

[AuntJenny]

Bale is BY FAR one of the best male actors of his generation (along with Robert Downey, Jr. and Sean Penn). I just (selfishly) wish he worked more. I applaud his careful choice of roles and his efforts to keep himself and his family out of the celebrity/tabloid scene.

Can't wait to see "Dark Knight"!

[Cakey4814]

I think he use to be on a soap opera if i'm not mistaken but i also remember him from Seinfeld..he was the guy who wouldn't share his song with Elaine.."D­esperado".­.he was also on Shaft with Samuel L. Jackson where he played a racist..he's a great actor.

[earthlingdave]

I think you must be thinking of someone else. Bale never appeared on Seinfeld.

[realitycheck7]

no that's not him and it's an insult to his career which is already 2 decades old

[jennyjen]

I just saw Empire of the Sun - directed by Spielberg. Halfway thru I finally figured out that the kid is Christian Bale. He is fantastic. Only 12-13 when that was filmed.

[trollsbwild]

C. Bale's work has been really solid. Don't go to theatres to see many movies, but I will go to see this one.

[shroomingnewman]

been a fan of bale since american psycho. he's a great actor

[AfricanLived]

Gawd- I can't wait for Dark Knight... Bales can't seem to lose... next he'll play John Connor in the upcoming Terminator movies.... awesome.

By the way, I hope he paid for those hot dogs... home boy has too much money not to!