Movies

Christian Bale packs on the pounds to play Cheney

Christian Bale debuted a plumper look over the weekend at the Telluride Film Festival, where he premiered his upcoming movie “Hostiles.”

The 43-year-old actor’s new body, however, is for his forthcoming film “Backseat,” in which he’ll play former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Bale also dyed his eyebrows blond to emulate the politician.

“Backseat,” which is set to begin filming this month, is a biopic about how Cheney’s politics “changed the world.” It also stars Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell as former President George W. Bush, Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld and Bill Pullman as Nelson Rockefeller.

Bale’s rep didn’t immediately return a request for comment about his weight-gain methods.

Bale’s recent metamorphosis isn’t the first time he’s transformed his body for a role. The “Dark Knight” star lost 70 pounds for his role in “The Machinist,” dropping down to 120. Soon after he had to gain it all back plus an additional 30 pounds to portray the famous Caped Crusader.

He ultimately won an Oscar for his role in “The Fighter,” which had him lose a ton of weight again.

Click through to see which other stars have gained or lost tremendous amounts of weight for movie roles.

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Chris Hemsworth ate just 500 calories a day (far below the recommended 2,000 to 3,000 calories for someone his size) to prepare for "In the Heart of the Sea." Hemsworth maintained a sense of humor about his struggle, posting the photo at left on Instagram with the caption, "Just tried a new diet/training program called 'Lost at Sea.' Wouldn't recommend it.. #IntheHeartoftheSea."
Chris Hemsworth ate just 500 calories a day (far below the recommended 2,000 to 3,000 calories for someone his size) to prepare for "In the Heart of the Sea." Hemsworth maintained a sense of humor about his struggle, posting the photo at left on Instagram with the caption, "Just tried a new diet/training program called 'Lost at Sea.' Wouldn't recommend it.. #IntheHeartoftheSea."Chris Hemsworth / Instagram / Splash News
Chris Pratt infamously shed pounds and built a whole lot of muscle for "Guardians of the Galaxy." How? He told Vulture, "Three or four hours a day of just consistent, ass-kicking hard work."
Chris Pratt infamously shed pounds and built a whole lot of muscle for "Guardians of the Galaxy." How? He told Vulture, "Three or four hours a day of just consistent, ass-kicking hard work."Everett Collection; Getty
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Christian Bale lost a whopping 63 pounds to play a chronic insomniac in "The Machinist."
Christian Bale lost a whopping 63 pounds to play a chronic insomniac in "The Machinist."Everett Collection; Getty
Bale told MTV News he didn't pay attention to numbers on a scale when losing weight to play a heroin addict in "The Fighter"—instead he just ran constantly.
Bale told MTV News he didn't pay attention to numbers on a scale when losing weight to play a heroin addict in "The Fighter" — instead he just ran constantly.Everett Collection; Getty
The transformation Bale probably enjoyed most? Eating cheeseburgers to gain 40 pounds for "American Hustle."
The transformation Bale probably enjoyed most? Eating cheeseburgers to gain 40 pounds for "American Hustle."Everett Collection; Getty
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50 Cent shed 60 pounds to play a cancer-stricken football player in "Things Fall Apart."
The normally beefy 50 Cent shed 60 pounds to play a cancer-stricken football player in "Things Fall Apart."Twitter; Getty
Anne Hathaway lost 25 pounds to play Fantine in "Les Miserables" — 15 before filming started and 10 during — by basically subsisting on oatmeal paste. She won an Oscar for her portrayal, in which she described herself as looking "near death."
Anne Hathaway lost 25 pounds to play Fantine in "Les Miserables" — 15 before filming started and 10 during — by basically subsisting on oatmeal paste. She won an Oscar for her portrayal, in which she described herself as looking "near death."Everett Collection; Getty
Charlize Theron put on 30 pounds to play serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster" because her body was too "athletic." Tough life.
Charlize Theron put on 30 pounds to play serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster" because her body was too "athletic." Tough life.Everett Collection; Getty
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The normally buff Eric Bana stopped working out and ate whatever he wanted for a month. The result? The cautionary tale that became his body in "Chopper."
The normally buff Eric Bana stopped working out and ate whatever he wanted for a month. The result? The cautionary tale that became his body in "Chopper."Everett Collection; Getty
Gerard Butler was never a slouch, but when he played King Leonidas in "300," he cut down his body fat and put on 10 pounds of muscle to boot.
Gerard Butler was never a slouch, but when he played King Leonidas in "300," he cut down his body fat and put on 10 pounds of muscle to boot.Everett Collection; Pacific Coast News
Hilary Swank trained like crazy to bulk up to a boxer look for "Million Dollar Baby." While producers wanted her to gain about 10 pounds of muscles, she ended up gaining 19.
Hilary Swank trained like crazy to bulk up to a boxer look for "Million Dollar Baby." While producers wanted her to gain about 10 pounds of muscle, she ended up gaining 19.Everett Collection; Getty
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Jared Leto packed on 60 pounds to play John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, in "Chapter 27."
Jared Leto packed on 60 pounds to play John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, in "Chapter 27."Everett Collection; Getty
Leto later lost between 30 and 40 pounds for his Academy Award-winning portrayal of transgender Nylon "Dallas Buyers Club." How? He told The Wrap it was just by not eating.
Leto later lost between 30 and 40 pounds for his Academy Award-winning portrayal of transgender Rayon "Dallas Buyers Club." How? He told The Wrap it was just by not eating.Everett Collection; Getty
For his breakout role in "Courage Under Fire," Matt Damon shed 40 pounds with a strict diet and running 10 miles everyday.
For his breakout role in "Courage Under Fire," Matt Damon shed 40 pounds with a strict diet and running 10 miles every day.Everett Collection; Getty
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Matt Damon happily put on 40 pounds to star in "The Informant."
Damon later happily put on 40 pounds to star in "The Informant."Everett Collection; Getty
"Lost" star Matthew Fox dropped 40 pounds to play an assassin in "Alex Cross."
"Lost" star Matthew Fox dropped 40 pounds to play an assassin in "Alex Cross."Everett Collection; Getty
Matthew McConaughey is usually and infamously ripped, but he lost 40 pounds to play an AIDS patient in "Dallas Buyers Club."
Matthew McConaughey is usually and infamously ripped, but he lost 40 pounds to play an HIV patient in "Dallas Buyers Club."Everett Collection; Getty
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Michael Fassbender dropped 42 pounds for the aptly titled "Hunger" by limiting himself to 900 Calories a day and exercising almost constantly.
Michael Fassbender dropped 42 pounds for the aptly titled "Hunger" by limiting himself to 900 calories a day and exercising almost constantly.Everett Collection; Getty
Mila Kunis dropped to 95 pounds for "The Black Swan," but she didn't love it. She told Harper's Bazaar, "When I gained it back, it went to completely different areas. All the weight that left my chest went to my side hip, my stomach ... I'd be happy if my ass got bigger."
Mila Kunis dropped to 95 lbs. for "Black Swan," but she didn't love it. She told Harper's Bazaar, "When I gained it back, it went to completely different areas. All the weight that left my chest went to my side hip, my stomach ... I'd be happy if my ass got bigger."Everett Collection; Getty
Natalie Portman was always svelte, but she dropped another 20 pounds from her petite frame for her Oscar-winning turn in "The Black Swan."
Natalie Portman was always svelte, but she dropped another 20 pounds from her petite frame for her Oscar-winning turn in "Black Swan."Everett Collection; Getty
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Jake Gyllenhaal got jacked for "Prince of Persia."
Jake Gyllenhaal got jacked for "Prince of Persia."Everett Collection; Getty Images
He later got gaunt for the upcoming thriller "Nightcrawler."
Gyllenhaal later got gaunt for the upcoming thriller "Nightcrawler."Splash; Getty
Renee Zellweger put on between 25 and 30 pounds to play Bridget Jones in 2001 and then again in 2003, causing the usually bony starlet to look, well, normal.
Renee Zellweger put on between 25 and 30 pounds to play Bridget Jones in 2001 and then again in 2003, causing the usually bony starlet to look, well, normal.Everett Collection; Getty
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Russell Crowe put on 63 pounds for "Body of Lies" by eating burgers for breakfast. Too bad they're not hiring anymore.
Russell Crowe put on 63 pounds for "Body of Lies" by eating burgers for breakfast. Too bad they're not hiring anymore.Everett Collection; Getty
Seth Rogen slimmed down for his role in "The Green Hornet" simply by watching what he ate and exercising regularly. Who knew it could be so simple?
Seth Rogen slimmed down for his role in "The Green Hornet" simply by watching what he ate and exercising regularly. Who knew it could be so simple?Everett Collection; Getty
Tom Hanks dropped 50 pounds for "Castaway." He previously lost weight for his role as a lawyer dying of AIDS in "Philadelphia," but was much more clothed in that film, so the loss wasn't as visible to audiences.
Tom Hanks dropped 50 pounds for "Castaway." He previously lost weight for his role as a lawyer dying of AIDS in "Philadelphia," but was much more clothed in that film, so the loss wasn't as visible to audiences.Everett Collection; Getty Images
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Vanessa Hudgens packed on the pounds and chopped off her hair for her role in "Gimme Shelter" in 2013.
Vanessa Hudgens packed on the pounds and chopped off her hair for her role in "Gimme Shelter" in 2013.Everett Collection; Getty
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