Heath Ledger completely ruined all my plans: Christian Bale on Batman in 'Dark Knight'

Actor Christian Bale admits he was not happy with his performance as Batman in Christopher Nolan's 2008 film The Dark Knight.

"I didn't quite manage what I hoped I would throughout the trilogy," he said. "Chris [Nolan] did, but my own sense of self is like, 'I didn't quite nail it'," the actor said in an interview.

For many fans, the giveaway from the hit movie was Heath Ledger's act as Batman's nemesis Joker that also earned him the best supporting actor Oscar (posthumously) in 2008.
It seems Bale agrees with the majority.

The 42-year-old added it was also Heath Ledger's act as Joker which made him assess his character and performance, said The Hollywood Reporter. "Heath [Ledger] turned up and just kind of completely ruined all my plans. I went, 'He's so much more interesting than me and what I'm doing'," Bale said.

Bale said that he had a specific sense of who Batman was and how he related to Bruce Wayne.

"Batman, he's just this very, very, very dark, messed-up character," said Bale. "I found when I put on the [Batman] suit, I felt like, 'I just feel like a bloody idiot if I don't use this as a means of it's kind of his true monstrous self that he allows to come out in that moment.' " Bale isn't looking for a surprise return to the role. "That's enough, enough's enough, you know?" he said. "We did our thing. I've got nothing else to offer." 

Actor Ben Affleck will be seen donning the Batman avatar in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which will hit US theatres on March 25.