Christian Bale

Christian Bale, a man who has famously starved himself, bulked up, and generally put his body through the wringer for his craft, has never, to our knowledge, undertaken a similar transformative journey into Judaism. No Bar Mitzvah prep, no deep dive into the Talmud, just good old-fashioned gentile dedication to cinematic suffering.

Born in Wales to parents who, while artistic and free-spirited, don't seem to have dabbled in Semitic heritage, Bale's background is about as gentile as a Sunday roast. So, for those of you hoping for a hidden menorah in his family tree, you're likely to be disappointed.

However, we must give him kvell-worthiness for his sheer commitment. Who else would lose 60 pounds for The Machinist and then gain 100 for Batman Begins? That kind of devotion, while not Jewish in origin, certainly brings a certain… nachas to the art of acting. It's almost goyish nachas, if you will.