(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Christian Bale says his new long hairstyle is the result of unemployment.

The actor won the best supporting actor trophy at Sunday nights Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles. He was honoured for his portrayal of Dickie Eklund in The Fighter, and took to the stage to accept the prize with flowing brown locks.

Christian is known to go all out for his role he lost around 30lbs. to play Dickie, and shed 65lbs. for his stint in 2004s The Machinist. Many thought his silky tresses were the result of movie preparation, but the real reason for his new look is much simpler.

In truth, you know what this is? This is unemployment, this is all this is, he laughed. I havent worked since The Fighter, and its nice to just not bother cutting your hair. When youre [not] in a job that everything always has to be, you know, worked out for a character, I just sort of let it all hang out, but its unemployment, thats all it is.

Christian was blown away when his name was announced at the ceremony, and hopes his award will raise the profile of The Fighter. It stars Mark Wahlberg as boxer Micky Ward, Dickies brother, and Christian is proud of the way it tells Mickys story.

He is also looking forward to getting back in front of the camera. The 36-year-old will start shooting several movies soon, which will see him cut his hair.

In a couple of weeks Im starting a movie [The 13 Women of Nanjing] in China with Zhang Yimou, a wonderful, fantastic Chinese director, he told Access Hollywood. Ill be doing 13 Women before I start on, The Dark Knight Rises. (C) Cover Media