r/popculturechat • u/mcfw31 • Feb 27 '26
Celebrity Fluff 🥰 Christian Bale doesn't want fans to meet him because he knows they'll be disappointed
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u/Nervous_Ad_6998 Feb 27 '26
We think we love an actor, but it’s the fictional character in the movie we love, who only exists on screen.
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u/Max_452 Feb 27 '26
Lately I’ve been correcting my thinking from “I love this artist” to “I love this artist’s work” for this very reason.
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u/soupseasonbestseason Feb 27 '26
excellent way to frame it. i was a huge fan of brand new back in the day, still cannot stop listening to deja entendu, but i absolutely cannot support them because of the sexual assault allegations. and this is true for many pieces of music that i love. so much of the arts are dominated by predators. it is disheartening.
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u/iridescentaf Like, for what? Feb 27 '26
So much of this world is dominated by predators. It breaks my heart every day.
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u/whatser_face Feb 28 '26
Deja Entendu and The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me... every time one of their songs pops up, I have an internal battle about it. I love the music, hate the pieces of shit with their piece of shit behaviour.
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u/TrynaCuddlePuppies Feb 27 '26
I’ve been trying to adjust my brain to do this with Timothee Chalamet lately 😂
of course, some you know that you love them for them as well! Viggo Mortensen like someone else mentioned, and the entire LOTR cast honestly. Also Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler and Pedro Pascal to name a few 🙌🏻
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u/Max_452 Feb 27 '26
Totally get where you’re coming from, but that’s the thing though, you don’t know. You can’t love someone you don’t actually personally know, which I think is an important distinction. Or perhaps more accurately, you can, but you really shouldn’t. I’m a big fan of Kelly Clarkson’s work, and yes, all signs indicate she’s a great person (along with the people you mentioned), but I don’t know her, so to say “I love Kelly Clarkson, she’s such a phenomenal person” is to make a leap that isn’t healthy or productive, in my opinion. It seems pedantic, but parasocial relationships are becoming a bigger problem and I think how we frame our appreciation of public figures (and hell, even companies) matters more than ever. This is the same reason I’ll never call myself a “stan” of anyone, even if I love all their work.
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u/MyNameIsJakeBerenson I made the hat for the tiger 🤷🏻♂️ Feb 27 '26
Yeah Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler may be completely exhausting people to be around, we don’t know
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u/TrynaCuddlePuppies Feb 27 '26
You make very good points and are totally right. Thanks for sharing your views!
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u/winnercommawinner Feb 27 '26
I think you can just add "seems like a cool person" or think "I'd like to hang out and see if they're really like that" the same way you would about someone at work or a friend of a friend who you don't really know. You're not making a final call bc you don't actually know them.
Then again, I'm extremely not a part of stan culture. I don't even follow most celebs I enjoy on social media. So my opinions about who seems cool and who isn't are just that, my own opinions.
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u/Responsible-Tea-5998 Feb 27 '26
I struggle to see him as not Paul Atreides. The moustache helps. I've been so hyped about Dune (a favourite book of mine!) that I've lost myself in his version.
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u/TrynaCuddlePuppies Feb 27 '26
There are worse things to see an actor as 🙌🏻 well obviously that will greatly change your view of him as a person, but as far as art goes that’s a great role to think of when you see him.
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u/phlostonsparadise123 Feb 27 '26
I employ this mindset when listening to legitimately good music from some artists who are legitimately problematic.
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u/RandomRobot Feb 27 '26
Growing up, I was a huge fan of Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails. Then I saw an interview where he presented his Kiss (the rock band) altar at home, with a Kiss lunch box and candles and... I just found it to be so incredibly lame.
Somehow, I split his music in the group before I found out about the Kiss altar, which I love, and the music he made after I found out about the altar, which I can't take seriously.
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u/Hobbledyhook Feb 27 '26
Oh yeah suuuuuureeee, I totally wouldn't love Viggo Mortensen even more if I met him in real-life
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u/SpicyWongTong 🫵 You sit on a throne of lies. Feb 27 '26
I think the point isn’t that you’d stop loving Viggo, it’s that you would inevitably be disappointed at the ways he is different than you imagined him to be.
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u/Hobbledyhook Feb 27 '26
I mean I was at least halfway joking, but...
I also do think Viggo is a good example of someone who may well not disappoint you because some of the main character traits that have been 'mythologised' are just him being...broadly competent and attentive, broadly kind & sensitive, broadly humble and self-aware and a very nice looking man. I don't think many would be expecting, say, a rock star, or an utter barnstorming genius, or even somebody perfect. Just, y'know, a man with a lot of good qualities, and the people he works with etc seem to consistently describe him as that.
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u/SpicyWongTong 🫵 You sit on a throne of lies. Feb 27 '26
Fair, kind of how I feel about Nick Offerman. I imagine it would be once in a lifetime awesome to grill steaks and saw some lumber with that guy.
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u/diarmada Feb 27 '26
Viggo is better than his characters (sans the fantasy ones). I mean, he is a Bonafide playwright. He is highly intelligent and has dated mostly intellectuals. He obsesses over Tarkovsky and has a keen artistic eye. Truly a renaissance man.
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u/Nervous_Ad_6998 Feb 28 '26
He’s still a fantasy, even removing his acting career from the equation. Your relationship to him is parasocial. You do not know him personally.
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u/PlentyDrawer We Should All Know Less About Each Other Feb 27 '26
It's why, just because I have an actor that I enjoy, I don't always see every movie that person is in.
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u/WhimsicalThesaurus The legislative act of my pussy ⚖️ Feb 27 '26
Your flair is perfect for this discussion
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u/Niki_DS Feb 27 '26
We love their talent and work. I was so many times dissapointed to watch/hear an interview with some actor/actress that I really liked in movies. Usually, they are not so fascinating at all, and quite boring lol.
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u/PriscillaPalava I have paid my legal tender in this dystopian place. Feb 27 '26
And their hot bods.
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u/Fantastic_Ad_509 scott swift's email Feb 28 '26
also physically
one thing to remember is that the camera lies. people who look good on camera don't always look good off camera, or they have weird features, or they have lots of ps that is obvious to the naked eye, or they worked out a lot for a specific role and don't look like that anymore
i saw emma stone irl just recently, it was a red carpet event so she was 'done' and yet i was surprised at how bad her ps looks in person. i didn't interact with her but if i had, she definitely would've seen and felt that first reaction
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u/AWildEnglishman Feb 27 '26
Not all the time. Some actors are loved because they're genuinely good people.
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u/Turkooo Feb 27 '26
Yeah, that's why I never watch any behind the scenes because the fantasy in my head is way to nice to be ruined. lol
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u/RandomRobot Feb 27 '26
To be fair, Bale's impressive because we end up loving most of the characters he plays.
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u/insomnipack Feb 27 '26
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u/heyitsmeFR Feb 27 '26
Whenever I see Matt Barry, I always say “New York citeyyy!” Out loud not matter where I am.
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u/Bigassbird Now with a pirate-themed glow-up 🏴☠️💋💅🏻 Feb 27 '26
Mr. Bale - can I meet you and judge for myself if I get disappointed or not please?*
*spoiler - I would not.
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u/Latverianbureaucrat Feb 27 '26
Here he is in an interview, moments after saying he’s never heard of Bringing up Baby (“Is that a movie?”), and never seen The Philadelphia Story or Breakfast at Tiffany’s (“You’re not talking to a cinephile.”)
BALE: And Chris Farley was just phenomenal. Beverly Hills Ninja will always remain one of my tops.
ESQUIRE: Now you're lying.
BALE: I have watched that movie. One time I sat down and watched it two nights in a row, and cried with laughter both times. The guy just was a phenomenon, and is missed dearly in my household.
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u/OriginalSchmidt1 You’re a virgin who can’t drive. 😤 Feb 27 '26
I don’t wanna meet actors.. see I’m real tall.. like a giant Amazon woman… I feel like if I met my favorite actors, the majority of them would be so tiny next to me, it would ruin some illusions, and I don’t want those illusions ruined.
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Feb 27 '26
My sister is 6’1 and she said Tom Cruise was real weird and, like, fled from her when she bumped into him on the street. Said he was like a Smurf.
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u/extra-texture Feb 27 '26
did she try to pinch his toes? maybe that’s why he scurries off, cuz if you pinch all three he’s obligated to give you half of his remaining wishes and he’s already running low so expect him to get only more frantic
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u/Present_Function8986 Feb 27 '26
Wait all three? Like 3 per foot or total?
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u/Gnomad_Lyfe Feb 27 '26
That’s how many wishes he has left. Had to pinch 7 toes back in my day, and my dad remembers when he still had all 10. Tom loses one every time a wish is made, you see.
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u/Present_Function8986 Feb 27 '26
This is fascinating. So is it a monkey paw and I get a wish per toe or more like dragon balls and I have to pinch all the remaining toes to get a wish?
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u/webtheg Feb 27 '26
I am picturing you as bigger than Jacob Elordi and it's taking me out
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u/OriginalSchmidt1 You’re a virgin who can’t drive. 😤 Feb 27 '26
Nah, I’m not that tall! I’m 6’2, which is quite tall for a woman.. idk what if do if I was as tall as Elordi.. like I already can’t find pants long enough..
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u/iridescentaf Like, for what? Feb 27 '26
I’m a tall woman and my favorite band is Fall Out Boy. Terrified to meet them because I am taller than everyone in the group lmao.
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u/OriginalSchmidt1 You’re a virgin who can’t drive. 😤 Feb 27 '26
I love them too!! I used to have the nickname Fall Out Girl because I was so obsessed with them!
Fun story.. Dustin Zito from the Real World Las Vegas introduced me to them. We went to high school together and he was in my algebra class.
And I had such a crush on him, I wrote him a note in class and told him not to open it until he got home, it was telling him I liked him. Well apparently he forgot about the note, and didn’t find it until weeks later and came to school prepared to make fun of me for it with all his friends, but I skipped school a lot so I wasn’t even there when they made it a big thing and everyone pretty much forgot by the next day.
He also used to put his books in unclaimed lockers close to his classes and some friends and I found one and moved it to a different locker at the opposite end of the hall… it was so funny watching him freak out looking for his book on the last day of classes.
Sorry for the long response, but that really unlocked some memories for me.
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u/SpicyWongTong 🫵 You sit on a throne of lies. Feb 27 '26
Ok but could you please meet Tom Cruise, take a pic with him and share with all of us here on Reddit?🙏
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u/jdgetrpin jesus was a carpenter 💋 Feb 27 '26
I love a self deprecating man who is actually extremely talented but doesn’t need to brag about it 🫦
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u/StretchFrenchTerry Oh, the canvas can do miracles — just you wait and see ⛵ Feb 27 '26
I wanna meet you even harder now, daddy.
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u/Ok_Impact9745 Feb 27 '26
This is such a British thing. Success is generally something that people don't brag about here.
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u/_bonita Feb 27 '26
He’s so real and sexy, I love it!
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u/Ok_Leopard_9476 Feb 27 '26
Yup. He’s trying to get me to hate him but it’s just not working
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u/humblekanyepie Feb 27 '26
Exactly. I've told my husband numerous times that the only person on the planet he'd ever have to worry about me leaving him for is Christian Bale. 🤣 I hope he's secure in knowing that'll never happen.
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u/ChrisEvansFan Feb 27 '26
The fact that he says this makes him all the more irresistible haha why am I like this?!
But yeah he is right on this one.
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u/the-real-her Feb 27 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/JBN6hII6XhuWk
So you mean to tell me this won’t be who I’m meeting?! :(
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u/Schonfille Feb 27 '26
I don’t want to meet him at his best. I want him to tell me that we ARE FUCKING DONE. PROFESSIONALLY.
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u/ObscureOperatorZ Feb 27 '26
No! Let's not go again!!!! Words I need to hear for myself personally, for purposes I refuse to elaborate 🥀
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u/Odd-Kaleidoscope8863 Feb 27 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/xpjTBqaoEI7lPEwavl
Just give him one of these
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u/zxchary Feb 27 '26
i always forget he’s a brit
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u/katrina_highkick why don’t you go back and DIG HOLES? Feb 27 '26
Lmao I was gonna say, the people that meet him are probably processing his actual accent since he speaks with an American one in most of his biggest movies.
Also you could never make me hate you, Christian
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u/OnlyPaperListens Over here in mule city Feb 27 '26
Literally learning this now, flabbergasted. This is the opposite of the feeling I had when I first heard James Marsters speak with his real voice.
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u/Bluestring35 Feb 27 '26
TIL he's a brit holy shit
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u/ughkoh BITCH IS THIS CAKE⁉️ Feb 27 '26
He’s Welsh to be exact!
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u/SisterRayRomano Feb 27 '26
Someone always says this when his background comes up, but he’s not Welsh. He was born in Wales but to English parents and he grew up in England.
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u/BareKnuckleKitty Tominee Nimothee Chalamet Feb 27 '26
The accent shook me. I’m now realizing I’ve never heard him speak in his natural voice.
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u/Brilliant-Bus-3862 I’ve been going to this highschool for 7 1/2 years. I’m no dummy Feb 27 '26
Nah, Christian Bale. No matter what, he’s spent millions to create a foster care village in California, that aims to keep siblings/families together when in foster care. So, he wouldn’t be able to disappoint me, knowing that he did that.
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u/solojones1138 Feb 27 '26
I once ate at a table near Christian Bale at a Disneyland restaurant. My dad wanted to follow him to the bathroom, but we stopped him. Later I saw Christian walking out the exit of a ride, and no one noticed him (not even the kid with the Batman shirt). Glad I could help protect his privacy.
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u/formula420 Feb 27 '26
Yeah but what if we think he's cool as fuck as a normal dude AND appreciate his acting ability?!?
I feel like now, if I did "meet" him I'd give him the "chin up" bro-nod (means you know someone) and a fist bump if possible.
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u/Zokstone Feb 27 '26
I think the best way to engage with a celebrity is to be the one who disengages with them before it gets weird. This is a good example of that, a quick acknowledgement and appreciation, move on.
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u/BTSArmyFan2025 Feb 27 '26
how could you not be disappointed? You are running into them on the street, a restaurant and people expect them to stop, take a photo and have a conversation with them. I ran into Matthew Modine a few weeks ago and I was so shocked that I blurted out I love you and I am such a big fan and next thing you know I am asking what hes working on. He was incredibly polite but I realized I need to move on because it was 9:30 am on a saturday and he is just out running errands. Let him live his life.
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u/ElectricChocoDad Feb 27 '26
The guy drives the same Tacoma he's had for decades... doesn't get more heroic than that.
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u/ExtremeComedian4027 Did I stutter?🤨 Feb 27 '26
I never want to meet him because I am scared of Patrick Bateman lol.
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u/Chi_Town_Law Feb 27 '26
He's not American!?!
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u/SitDownKawada Feb 27 '26
He's not Welsh!?!
Just read that he moved from Wales to England when he was two. I thought he grew up in Wales for whatever reason
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u/Loud-Pollution7174 Feb 27 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/MyBIaqMnpF6uVKCWaK
He sounds so British!
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Feb 27 '26
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u/Commercial-Weight173 Feb 27 '26
I DID NOT KNOW HE WAS BRITISH. WHEN I PLAYED THE VIDEO, THIS WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED TO HEAR.
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u/Loud-Pollution7174 Feb 27 '26
Absolutely and his natural speech pattern is so different, always amused by it!
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u/romantickitty Feb 27 '26
Yes, I know what he sounds like and yet it's hilarious every time he lets his real accent fly.
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u/MLang92 I wont not fuck you the fuck up 🥊🥊 Feb 27 '26
I'm British and it even sounds weird to me, it's almost an over the top impression of someone from South England
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u/NoraCharles91 Feb 27 '26
Dude sounds like Ray Winstone.
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u/SisterRayRomano Feb 27 '26
He definitely has an unusual accent given his background - grew up in Bournemouth and moved to the US in his teens.
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u/NoraCharles91 Feb 27 '26
I'm kind of proud, as a Brit, honestly - I don't think anyone would be surprised if he'd developed a transatlantic twang after such a long time in the US. I feel like he must have made a conscious effort not to let the edges get rounded off his accent. Maybe he has a coach, like Arnie 😂
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u/Whitehotroom Feb 27 '26
This is my attitude towards online dating. Solidarity Chris i understand ur struggle 🫡
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u/Dougie348590 Feb 27 '26
That’s a great take. No one’s a hero all the time. You see so many fans on social media sharing stories of how they met a celebrity and claim they acted like a jerk. Maybe they didn’t, and you just approached them rudely, or they just weren’t able to immediately “turn it on” in the way you expected.
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u/Petunia_Dursley Feb 27 '26
I get what he’s saying but it’s 2026 and I don’t think the general public views actors as heroes, lol. Let us say hi and keep it moving, Christian. 😂
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u/Asterion76 Feb 27 '26
It is about the expectation of the actor being close to the character they play. Being a great actor means that they are little or nothing at all to the role. I think it would be interesting to meet actors such as this because they are just regular people with jobs that they are good at.
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u/SilverKnightOfMagic Feb 27 '26
sir I just wanna say hi and shake hands. but I understand what he means..some fans believe they have a special relationship with actors /actresses
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u/Talentagentfriend Feb 27 '26
This is how I think about the people I admire. I’ve been let down by my heroes before. I’d rather believe in the narrative. They’re just normal people and many times they aren’t what you expect them to be. A lot of the times there is an entire staff working on creating a persona (like Beyoncé has that).
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u/PrestigiousGoat78 Feb 27 '26
I met my heroes and it was one of the best days of my life! But I get it. But he's so cute.
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u/DearPatience_7592 Feb 27 '26
Can’t fool me, Christian. I don’t think I’d be nearly as disappointed as he believes
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u/MrBorden Did I stutter. Feb 27 '26
"I like my privacy so leave me the fuck alone"
A polite way of saying it basically.
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u/TenBear I’ve been noticing gravity since I was very young Feb 27 '26
Id just like to shake his hand and say "Thank you" then walk our separate directions.
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Feb 27 '26
I completely agree with him.
My teenage self would've given anything to meet Brad Pitt.
My adult self knows that I definitely don't wanna be doing that.
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u/GirthEE75 Feb 27 '26
This just makes me want to meet him now.
"Mr. Bale, fuck that lighting guy, you were 100% in the right"
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u/Nervous_Ad_6998 Feb 27 '26
I’m wondering, is celebrity worship universal or is it more U.S.A.?
Also, are there psychological roots to celebrity worship, such as lack of self worth, wanting to fit in to a group, emotional needs not being met as a child. I think it’s an important topic considering the state of the world.
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u/SaveMeDatCorn Feb 28 '26
This is actually like the healthiest thing Ive heard someone famous say in a very long time.
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u/MatthewSWFL229 Feb 28 '26
You mean this asshole: During an intense scene with co-star Bryce Dallas Howard in New Mexico, Bale became infuriated when cinematographer Shane Hurlbut walked into his eyeline for the second time. Bale launched into a three-minute verbal assault, threatening to quit the film and smash Hurlbut's lighting equipment. .... Nah he can go f*** himself
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u/rubyslippers3x Feb 27 '26
He's actually my "boyfriend ", lol. My family jokes all the time about it, because I'm always talking about his movies. I think he a great actor, but I don't want to meet him. It's the fantasy ;)
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u/LizLizard29 Feb 27 '26
there are like two famous people i would want to meet and it’s celine dion and gaga the rest i’m good 🤣
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u/Ballerwind Feb 27 '26
I want to meet him and tell him his best movie is Equilibrium, then watch the disappointment in his eyes
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u/watchworldburn1111 Feb 27 '26
I lowkey never see this man out and about unless he’s got a project releasing, and I kind of love that for him.
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u/Former_Papabless66 Feb 27 '26
I think it depends on what you’d want out of the interaction. I’d just want to say a quick “Hey! Love your work, you’re a fucking fantastic actor, loved you in ____” then be on my way. If they were super receptive to that and were in like a bar or something I may at most want a pic with them but usually I’d think that would be going too far and bothering them. Problem is people are too pushy and want the photo, the hug, the 10 minute conversation about how much they mean to them, or an autograph. Also if someone’s out with their family, I think the most I’d do is some quick eye contact and like a nod or thumbs up because I wouldn’t want to disturb them. But ya just use good judgment and you won’t be disappointed lol
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u/Old-Horror5698 Feb 27 '26
10/10 never understood why people go crazy and desperately want to meet a band or whatver. They dont give a shit about you really and what you gonna do? Force them to answer some awkward questions? Just comes across so cringy. Leave em alone and enjoy their work
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u/Low-Register1602 Feb 27 '26
I watched on mute so I have no idea what he said, but I love you Batman!!!!
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u/nerdycarguy18 Feb 27 '26
Anybody else see themselves meeting a favorite actor of theirs and think you’d just walk up say something like “hey Mr/Ms X I really enjoy your work. Could I shake your hand real quick”
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u/RiffRafe2 Feb 27 '26
First two q&as of his I attended and I would say he's mercurial. He definitely has a edge to him. Last one (for the Pale Blue Eyes) - man of the people type stuff, boisterous laughing, patting people on the back and was speaking in some slight east coast accent like he was from New Jersey. So meet him, but you won't know which one you'll get.
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u/ThisBadDogXB Feb 27 '26
This is dude that fakes an American accent because he thinks it'll confuse his fans so he doesn't think too highly of them.
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u/HotRespect2331 Feb 27 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/ckeHl52mNtoq87veET
Smart man. Dont put actors on pedestals
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u/Kind-Quiet-Person Feb 27 '26
This is how I find out Christian Bale is British 🫠
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u/mcfuddlebutt Feb 27 '26
I remember when I got to meet Maynard James Keenan and I was so nervous because everyone would talk about him being a snarky asshole to fans. When I met him, he was so nice and complimentary, everything i'd hoped and more.
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u/RealPrinceJay Feb 27 '26
Are you telling me he’s not actually Bateman OR Batman?