Bale admits fighting for 'Psycho' role

Christian Bale has confessed that he was so desperate to land his career-changing role in the 1999 film American Psycho that he warned off other A-list actors.

The Welsh-born star, who plays Batman in the eagerly anticipated movie The Dark Knight, stunned critics with his mesmerising performance as charming but psychotic serial killer Patrick Bateman in the film.

Adapted from the controversial novel by Bret Easton Ellis, Bale admits that he was completely taken by the unusual script and became determined to win the part even though it meant competing against actors who were much bigger stars than him at the time - including Leonardo DiCaprio.

"I had to make a decision either to accept I wasn't going to get the part because Leo was a much bigger star or do battle," Bale told The People.

"When Leo dropped out, the film company said, 'Let's call that crazy guy who keeps telling everyone he can play the lead.' I even warned other actors off - including Ewan McGregor. I was not going to be bullied out of the part - I was going to stand up for myself and fight."

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