Christian Bale has stunned fans with his emaciated appearance as he prepares to play drug addicted boxer Dickie Eklund in a new drama.

The Batman actor was hardly recognizable on Monday as he was photographed looking gaunt walking through Los Angeles, where he is filming The Fighter.

Method actor Bale, who lost 63 pounds for his role in 2004's The Machinist, has apparently embarked on a severe diet to play Eklund, whose welterweight boxing career ended in 1985 because of his addiction to cocaine.

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)