Donald Trump thought Christian Bale was actually Bruce Wayne

Christian Bale (right) says US President Donald Trump once thought he was his Batman character Bruce Wayne. Photos / AP, Getty Images

Christian Bale says US President Donald Trump once thought he was Bruce Wayne when they met on the set of one of Christopher Nolan's Batman films.

In an interview on the red carpet of his new film Vice, in which Bale plays former US Vice President Dick Cheney, Bale was asked who should play Trump in a movie.

Bale described Trump as a "tall gentleman" before telling the story of their encounter.

"I met him one time. We were filming on Batman in Trump tower. And he said, 'come on up to the office,'" Bale recalled.

"I think he thought I was Bruce Wayne, because I was dressed as Bruce Wayne, so he talked to me like I was Bruce Wayne and I just went along with it... it was quite entertaining.

"I had no idea at the time that he would think about running for president."

Christian Bale recalls meeting Donald Trump: "He thought I was Bruce Wayne" https://t.co/JIB3PoWoV6 #ViceMovie pic.twitter.com/9HnJWR2nqD

— Variety (@Variety) December 12, 2018

Bale then called Trump as "Individual-1," referring to the trial of Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, in which that pseudonym is presumed to have been referring to Trump.

"And this story is part of how we got to be here, with that 'Individual-1' being president," said Bale.

Christian Bale as Dick Cheney and Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney in Vice. Photo / AP

Vice, also starring Sam Rockwell, Amy Adams and Steve Carell, is released in New Zealand cinemas on Boxing Day.