Bale: Next Batman film will be my last

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Welsh-born actor Christian Bale says "The Dark Knight Rises" will be the last movie in which he plays Batman.

Bale won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar this year for his performance in "The Fighter," but is best known for his portrayal of the comic-book hero Batman in "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight."

"I wrapped a few days ago, so that will be the last time I'm taking that cowl off," Bale told the Philippine Daily Inquirer of his work on "The Dark Knight Rises," which is set for theatrical release next year. "I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it's all done. Everything's finished. It's me and [director] Chris [Nolan] -- that will be the end of that Batman era."

Bale went on to describe playing billionaire Bruce Wayne and his superhero alter-ego as "enjoyable."

"We always maintained from the beginning that if you wanted to break it down, there are three personas -- Batman is sincere, the private Bruce Wayne is sincere. The public version of Bruce Wayne, the playboy, is a completely fabricated performance," Bale told the Inquirer.