The Dark Knight

For his latest film Rescue Dawn, Christian Bale ate real maggots and starved himself to look convincing as German prisoner-of-war Dieter Dengler, shot down over Laos in 1966. He's metamorphosed a few times for roles, from going tan and taut for American Psycho to becoming skeletal in the Machinist. He's a multi-planet Aquarian that's all about defying expectations, most recently saying he doesn't want a Hollywood-style entourage. "I've always been a loner -- I can't stand having people around me too much. I don't have an assistant ever because I know I would end up just throwing them out of the room."

With a cult following on the Internet, he's a reluctant hero that would rather downplay the persona, and let the acting speak for itself. It's a tribute to his being able to do this, surrender to being transformed body and soul, that has led to him being so highly revered.

• An AstroLook at Christian Bale
• Aquarian Psycho by Jill Dearman