The next eight years of Bale’s career would see him continually trying to understand his new-found celebrity status, with roles in musicals ‘Newsies’ and ‘Swing Kids’ both failing with critics and audiences.

In need of a new break, Bale signed up to play the charismatic male presence in the estrogen-filled ‘Little Women’. It was this film that allowed audiences to fully embrace his charm, thrusting the young actor back into the limelight, wearing the heartthrob label with ease.