Guide Note

Actor Christian Bale was reportedly arrested in London on July 22, 2008, on assault charges. The British newspaper The Telegraph reported that Bale was accused of assaulting his mother and sister in his hotel room on July 20, 2008. Bale and other stars of The Dark Knight attended the London premiere of the film on July 21, 2008.^{1 2}

On July 23, 2008, the U.K.'s Daily Mail newspaper reported that Bale confronted his mother after she insulted his wife, Sandra "Sibi" Blazic.³

On July 24, 2008, it was reported that the dispute began after Christian Bale refused his sister Sharon Bale's request for a £100,000 loan. When asked about the incident at at the Spanish premiere of The Dark Knight on July 23, Bale referred to the dispute as a "deeply personal matter" and asked that reporters respect his privacy.⁴

Fast Facts

1. July 22, 2008: Christian Bale arrested¹
2. Bale accused of assaulting his mother and sister in his London hotel suite on July 20, 2008¹
3. Authorities were questioning Bale about the alleged assault; he remained in custody on July 22, 2008²
4. Alleged assault happened at London's Dorchester Hotel¹
5. Bale's mother, Jenny Bale, and sister, Sharon Bale, reported the alleged assault to police on July 21, 2008⁵
6. Police reportedly opted not to question Bale on the day the charges were filed; Bale attended The Dark Knight's first European screening that evening⁶

1. Bale denies the assault allegations⁷
2. TMZ and others reported that the arrest may have been for verbal assault⁸

1. Full name: Christian Charles Philip Bale
2. Born: January 30, 1974
3. Birthplace: Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
4. Spouse: Sandra "Sibi" Blazic
5. Notable roles include Batman in The Dark Knight and Batman Begins, Alfred Borden in The Prestige and Patrick Bateman in American Psycho