The Best Supporting Actor statue has gone to Christian Bale for his role as drug addicted former professional boxer Dicky Ecklund in The Fighter. Bale was widely considered the front-runner in this category, having swept the awards this season. There was some speculation that Geoffrey Rush might win, but it went to the ultimate method actor, who was somewhat defensive about his preparation for the role when Ryan Seacrest asked him about it on the red carpet. Bale told Seacrest: “When you get a right role… you want to be obsessive, you want to immerse yourself as much as you can… People deserve, people are paying money for it. You want to bust your ass.” And that ass busting was recognized by the Academy tonight.
In Bale’s acceptance speech he said “Bloody hell. What a room full of talented and inspirational people, and what the hell am I doing here, in the midst of you? Such an honor.” He thanked director David O. Russell for “making [our work] mean something.” He joked that he’s “not going to drop the F bomb” like Melissa Leo as he’s done in the past. Then he thanked his co-stars and gave a shout out to the guy he played, Dicky Ecklund, and even plugged Dicky’s website and personal training service. He thanked Mark Wahlberg, his team, and got choked up when he thanked his wife, calling her his “mast to the storms of life” and his daughter, saying “Our little girl, who’s taught me so much more than I’ll ever be able to teach her.”
It was really sweet, you could tell he was trying to be professional, and he was. Bale was thoughtful, funny, emotional and struck just the right notes in his speech. It’s his time and he wanted to show that he deserved this. He surely did.
Photos updated! Credit: WENN.com
I liked his speech a lot! He really wanted it, and he was prepared, and his speech was very gracious. Good for him.
It was really good, right?
I’ve been a fan of his onscreen talent since he was in Kenneth Brannaugh’s Henry V, and Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. Fabulous from the very start. Nice speech, and much deserved. Congrats, Christian!
Dammit…he made me tear up. He’s speech was beautiful.
I liked his speech. I thought it was so genuine.
I still can’t believe he was never nominated before this, he’s a great actor. Very glad he won, and that was a good speech. He also seems to really love his wife and daughter, it’s nice to see that side of him.
He plays the same wooden character in everything he’s in. Big whoop.
Love him and loved the speech. They make such a great couple.
all i gotta say to christian bale….
GOOODDDD FOOR YOOUU!!!
Was it just me or did it almost seem like he forgot his wife’s name? Whether he did or not, it was a lovely speech.
I said it before and I say it again: love him since Empire of the Sun.
It was a lovely speech and he made me tear up too. Well deserved Bale!
At long last! Yay Bale! (now shave, for god’s sakes)
Awesome – he totally deserved this win! Although I think this was more of a lead role than a supporting one, and Bale should win a lead actor Oscar some year. He is so dedicated.
Is it just me, or does his wife resembles Matt Damon’s wife?
Fishstick Paltrow can’t sing for shit!!!
@ Oi: Co-sign on the shaving comment lol. I loved Christian in The Fighter. Actually, I loved the whole damn movie lol. Soooo good all around. His speech was awesome too. I wasn’t expecting that from him. So glad to see this movie doing so well.
OMG Christian like so deserved it. I am very happy for him…me and my friend were just talking about his deviation to his craft because we had seen The Machinist and his other movies, we love him. Loved his speech to.
@Liana: Of course. He’s a genuine guy.
I enjoyed his speech but I couldn’t tell if the audience was groaning or cheering when he reeled off Dick Eklund’s web address.
I like that speech. Good for him.
Is it just me, or his beard thing quite ginger?
Didn’t they try for years to get the Fighter made? I hope whoever turned them down is watching now as it picks up 2 acting Oscars and has made over $100 million!
I may be mistaken, but I think Bale’s wife was at one time Winona Ryder’s assistant, and met Bale when he and WR worked on a film together. I think she’s very pretty, but she’s worn black to every award show this season.
Goopy’s singing was not good, I think she was really nervous.
LOL at the Modern Family commercial, love that show.
he asked backstage to some journalists if he thanked well Amy Adams,Melissa Leo,Mark Wahlberg and David O Russel because he was unable to remember it ( he was too excited) LOL and it ‘s well deserved
I’m so happy he won and I loved his speech and his comments to his wife and daughter-how sweet!
Geoffrey Rush was robbed.
His win was one of the few I was legitimately happy about. It was sincere and his brief mention of how he was a few years ago was humbling (that may have been backstage, not on stage, however).
@Grace — He started to cry when he mentioned his wife and paused to try to get himself under control — that is what *might* have made it seem like he forgot her name, but I don’t think he actually forgot her name.
Well done Christian 😀 , he is one of the best actors of his generation who very much deserves his Oscar. <3
Now he just needs to shave! (Wish he had for the Oscars)
XD Bale! He finally win! I’ve been waiting this for years T_T
i am confused. why does he seem to have a different accent every single time i hear him speak? that said, i freaking love him.
When they showed the clip of Geoffrey Rush in The King’s Speech a large section of the audience laughed like it was the first time they’d seen it. It made me wonder if it was. It’d be good if the red carpet reporters asked the stars if they’d seen all the films nominated for Best Picture.
It’s a pity Mark Wahlberg didn’t win anything, I like him.
Well done for Christian Bale but please.. please shave that beard!
I’m with OXA (# 22). Rush was robbed. Big time.
I have yet to see a “great” performance by Bale that doesn’t come along with a dramatic weight loss.
Well done Christain!
Great actor, but he’s seems a little too unhinged at times. His wife must be a saint for putting up with him and all his antics.
I am glad for Christian Bale and Colin. I was happy to see Douglas and I loved Christian’s speech – it was heartfelt.
The beard has got to go! Maybe he needs it for his next role, but blech, it looks terrible. His wife is very pretty, the two-toned hair has got to go. I don’t know why this trend is catching on, but it looks trashy.
one of my favorite speeches in a long, drag-ass night!
so atrociously boring! they need to bring back the stand up comics… i know they tend to be more controversial but controversy is SO much better than utter boredom! bleh
His wife was WR assistant & they met when Christian & Wynonna did Little Women. I LOVE that movie & I have loved him since then.
I also unabashedly love Newsies. There, I said it. 😀
I loved his speech, especially what he said about his wife and daughter. And his joke about dropping the f-bomb.
He was so so dapper in his tuxedo. Congrats Christian.
I think his wife might have been the best dressed of the night too. Love her dress.
I would also add that it was funny to hear Christian Bale say how he felt like he didn’t belong in that room full of talent. He’s more talented and hardworking than about 99.9% of all those people!
“bloody hell!” When I heard it I thought he was going to give the most hideous speech, but fortunately it was nice, well spoken.
I’m happy he won, I really like him and I think the award was deserved.
Didn’t watch. Was sick like a dog last night but I’m so happy he won. He so deserves it.
@Eve, American Psycho.
I also really loved Equilibrium but that’s not exactly considered a ‘good’ film. He was eminently watchable in it though.
@ I Choose Me:
Will watch it someday and if I change my opinion about him I’ll let you know :). As of now, I really think Geoffrey Rush was robbed.
Sigh…………..
I think he was the highlight of the evening, he did a wonderful job even among all the eloquent speakers of the night.
He and Colin Firth brought it!
Maybe I’m cynical, but I think he did space out on his wife’s name and then tried to cover it up by acting choked up.
He’s a weirdo. A good actor, but a weirdo.
Also, the thing about how there were so many talented people there and what was he doing with them was so disingenuous to me. I think even before the Oscar it’s been pretty widely acknowledged that he’s a very talented, hard-working actor. His acting hasn’t exactly gone unnoticed up until this point, so I have a hard time believing he really thinks he’s not in the same caliber as the other people there.
love when he got choked up talking about his wifey and daughter … it was so romantic and made melt. Only he can pull off that hobo bear and still be sexy …
He deserved it!!
He totally deserved it