 Due to his part in _Maquinista, El (2004)_ (qv) (aka The Machinist),  Christian Bale (qv) was vastly underweight (about 120 pounds on  his 6 foot+ frame) when he was under consideration for the part.  After being cast, he was told to become as "big as you could be" by  Christopher Nolan (I) (qv). Bale underwent a dietary and exercise  regimen and ending up weighing about 220 pounds (about 40 pounds  above his normal weight). It was decided that Bale had became too  large (friends of his on the films crew dubbed him "Fatman") and he  quickly shed about 20 pounds to have leaner, more muscular frame.