Christian Bale (The Prestige) The Prestige
Bale lobbied for Borden because the character's discomfort matched his own
Christian Bale pursued the role of Alfred Borden after working with Nolan on Batman Begins. He obtained the script on his own initiative, read Christopher Priest's source novel despite Nolan's suggestion otherwise, and called the director to make his case. (slashfilm)
"I really liked the character of Borden and just told him, 'Hey look, this would be great. I could really do this very well.'" — Christian Bale, CinemaBlend (2006)
"I was attracted particularly to Borden because he's quite an awkward character who's uncomfortable in front of an audience." — Christian Bale, Empire (2006)
That discomfort was not entirely performance. Bale has rarely done stage work, and his natural unease in front of live audiences paralleled Borden's inability to sell his brilliance to a crowd.
Bale played Borden as working-class without making the period feel precious
One of Bale's specific concerns was avoiding the stiffness that period films often impose on their actors. He wanted the Victorian setting to feel inhabited, not displayed, and pushed for a working-class register that would make the character accessible.
"Most people immediately hear period movies and they start falling asleep... especially with my character you are dealing with a much more working class background." — Christian Bale, CinemaBlend (2006)
"It's England so there is going to be class rivalry. Absolutely... if you go back a 100 years in England and you know your place. That's it." — Christian Bale, CinemaBlend (2006)
The class difference between Angier and Borden is not incidental -- it drives the rivalry. Angier is wealthy and connected; Borden is a craftsman whose talent exceeds his station. Bale built that frustration into the character's bearing.
The twin role demanded secrecy from the actor himself
Bale's character harbors the film's central secret: Borden is not one man but two identical twins sharing a single identity. The challenge was to play two people as one without tipping the audience, while laying enough subtle inconsistency that the revelation would feel earned on rewatch. Bale focused on Borden's obsessive relationship to his craft as the unifying trait.
"The fact that this relies upon secrecy not only for his livelihood, but for his very life." — Christian Bale, Girl.com.au (2006)
"A character that doesn't understand why people can't see what he is doing. He is by far the best magician." — Christian Bale, CinemaBlend (2006)
Bale recognized Nolan's shift from Batman Begins to a more intimate directing style
Having just made a blockbuster with Nolan, Bale noticed the director adjusting his approach for a smaller-scale production. The handheld cinematography and location shooting created a looser, more immediate atmosphere.
"Chris was a shape shifter in the way he went to very different styles of directing from Batman to this." — Christian Bale, CinemaBlend (2006)
"If you work well with someone you want to try to strike gold again." — Christian Bale, Girl.com.au (2006)
"I do think he's one of the best around and I think you're in bloody good hands." — Christian Bale, Girl.com.au (2006)