Chloë Sevigny is sharing simply how “intimidating” her “American Psycho” co-star was on set.
The actor not too long ago sat down with Vainness Honest to debate the 2000 movie, through which Christian Bale performed a murderous funding banker with a dedication she’d by no means seen earlier than. Whereas his methodology appearing has since change into legend, Sevigny discovered it “challenging” on set.
“I was really intimidated by his process and intimidated by him,” she instructed the outlet. “And I wanted a little more generosity to make myself feel more at ease, which is my own ego. It was a really challenging dynamic for me, but I don’t think that I thought he was bad.”
“I was just kind of confused, like, ‘Why aren’t you being social?’” Sevigny continued.
Sevigny was 25 years previous when she was solid within the controversial adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel and “wasn’t even aware” of methodology appearing — a method Bale used to completely immerse himself within the icy position. She took a “fake it until you make it” method herself, she mentioned.
The supply materials itself was famously protested on the time of its 1991 publication because of the relentless racism, misogyny and sexual violence of its protagonist Patrick Bateman. Whereas Bale brilliantly mined the nihilism of his character, not everybody noticed his imaginative and prescient on set.
“I actually truly remember thinking that Christian Bale was terrible,” co-star Josh Lucas instructed the outlet. “I remember the first scene I did with him, I watched him and he seemed so false — and I now realize that it was this just fucking brilliant choice that he was making.”
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Bale had but to change into a star however grabbed “American Psycho” by the horns. The Welshman not solely used his fake American accent in interviews, however might purportedly break right into a sweat on cue whereas filming — and endured a rigorous train routine for the position.
Whereas some methodology actors may take the method too far, Lucas was actually impressed.
“[He’s] not paying attention to fucking anything else but what he’s doing,” he instructed the outlet. “I have nothing but admiration for that, because a lot of Method actors are actually kind of distracting with the fact that their process is more important than anything or anybody else.”
“I thought it was bogus acting at the time,” added Lucas, “but was exactly the opposite.”
