The 2019 Golden Globes: we laughed, we cried, we said, “wait... what?”
The 76th annual Golden Globes were a night to remember. Sandra Oh made history as the first person of Asian descent to host an awards show, as well as with her second Globe win for this year’s Best Actress in a Drama Series. Olivia Colman called Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone her “bitches" in a winning speech that made us all wish we were in their group chat. A girl serving Fiji water also served some serious face that earned her instant Internet fame. Jeff Bridges made a speech that no one understood.
But Bridges’ speech wasn’t the only one that confused Golden Globes audiences. When Christian Bale accepted his award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, a resounding gasp was heard across the internet as people realized something truly unbelievable. The actor does not have an American accent.
For anyone who isn’t familiar with Christian Bale...
Bale is an A-list actor famous for his intense method acting and the physical transformations he takes on for his roles. The dude is dedicated to his craft.He’s starred in tons of award winning films.
The actor is well known for his performance in American Psycho, where he plays a rich yuppie who spends his nights committing murders across New York City.Or maybe you know him from The Fighter.
Bale plays a former boxer who’s seen better days, and is failing to train his up-and-coming younger brother in the sport.
You must have seen The Machinist.
His character Trevor suffers insomnia and brutal emaciation, and Bale famously lost a stunning amount of weight for the role.
Oh, and he’s also Batman.
In all his most memorable movies, Christian Bale’s characters speak with American accents. I mean, what’s more American than Batman?
So people were pretty shocked when they heard his *actual* voice.
Breaking: Christian Bale Has Been British For 44 Years And Has The Accent To Boot (Welsh) https://t.co/qGvBNphK2X— chaps (@chaps)1546829820.0
Best actor? More like best accent, am I right?
Bale took home the trophy for best actor in a motion picture comedy or musical after his performance as former Vice President Dick Cheney in the movie Vice.
People legitimately could not tell what was going on.
"Thank you to Satan for giving me inspiration on how to play this role." - Christian Bale with the official 2019 mo… https://t.co/2grtDQeppR— UPROXX (@UPROXX)1546829533.0
His use of British slang pretty much confirmed the accent was legitimate.
He called his fellow actors “lucky buggers" for having the opportunity to work in Hollywood, and the cockney cadence was too spot on to be for show.
The accent wasn’t the only thing in Bale’s speech that raised eyebrows.
Are Christian Bale's kids really called Banana and Burrito? #GoldenGlobes— John Featherstone (@John Featherstone)1546866132.0
It was all a lot to take in. Some people refused to believe the accent had always been there.
christian bale is british. this is the new #MandelaEffect— CRUISR (@CRUISR)1546829484.0
A few people thought the heavy accent had to be a bit.
I thought Christian Bale was doing a british accent to be funny and boy was it making me mad!!— Joel Kim Booster (@Joel Kim Booster)1546829228.0
Others knew Bale was a Brit but remembered his voice being a little more subtle.
They say accents become stronger after a couple of drinks, but in Bale’s case, this theory remains unconfirmed.Even after the initial shock wore off, people still thought the accent was a little over the top.
I constantly forget that Christian Bale’s real accent sounds like a cartoon chimney sweep #GoldenGlobes — Lane Moore (@Lane Moore)1546829078.0
I mean obviously there are beloved British actors — but stars like Bale are something different.
I don’t think I’ve ever even heard Michael Caine do an American accent. Hold on — Caine plays the Alfred to Bale’s Batman. Accent inception?As it turns out, there’s a good reason people were so confused.
Bale’s doesn’t just pull out the fake accent for his movies.The actor has actually done entire interviews in an American accent.
During the 2008 Batman Begins press tour, Bale only spoke in his fake American accent out of concern that his British heritage might hurt ticket sales for such an iconic American movie.But his penchant for accents is no secret.
Bale has often discussed the voice work he does in his performances.In a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) thread, Bale addressed a question regarding how his different accent choices inform his performance.
from movies
But many fans knew Bale was a Brit well before the Golden Globes.
Apparently I’m the only person on the internet who already knew Christian Bale is British and saw EMPIRE OF THE SUN in theatres.— Howard Sherman (@Howard Sherman)1546829649.0
I mean, it’s easy to forget when he literally transforms himself in every role.
The actor leads a surprisingly private life for such a high profile celebrity, so opportunities to hear his native accent are relatively limited.Others were still stuck arguing what kind of accent it really was.
Bale was born in Wales, but both his parents are English and he was raised in London, and people had a lot of opinions about all of it.Christian Bale wasn’t even the only actor who’s accent shocked at the Globes.
Everyone is tripping over Christian Bales accent when I always forget that Idris Elba has an accent !!— Ariel Flores🖤 (@Ariel Flores🖤)1546886121.0
Like Bale, Elba boasts an impeccable American accent in many of his performances.
@Jezebel It always trips me up when idris elba speaks, idk if I’ve ever seen a film/show where he doesn’t have an A… https://t.co/QaenHFzPpf— DC Castillo (@DC Castillo)1546878138.0
Saoirse Ronan also surprised with her Irish accent.
The day that I first heard Saoirse Ronan speak in her Irish accent really shook me to the core— Alexis 📸 (@Alexis 📸)1546976089.0
The surprise non-American actor phenomenon happens more often than you might even realize.
Actress Katherine Langford portrays an American high-schooler in 13 Reasons Why, but actually speaks with an Australian accent IRL.Would you believe Isla Fisher doesn’t really have an American accent?
The national rom-com darling is actually Australian.Ok, but 'Riverdale' star K.J. Apa has to be 100% American, right?
The teen drama hero dons a fake American accent at work, but really speaks with a New Zealand accent.Some viewers were so taken with their fav actors real voices, they suggested a new Globe’s category.
And the best voice nominees are: Saorsie Ronan, Christian Bale, and Idris Elba. #GoldenGIobes— Vanessa Borge (@Vanessa Borge)1546829375.0