Actor Christian Bale, in London for the European premiere of the latest Batman film, The Dark Knight, has said he was surprised by the success of the sequel.

The movie has already set a record for an opening weekend in North America.

Bale - in the lead role for a second time - joined Sir Michael Caine and Maggie Gyllenhaal on the red carpet.

Speaking against a backdrop of flames shooting up from the cinema roof, he paid tribute to his co-star, the late Heath Ledger who played the Joker.

And he said the real star of the film was its director, Christopher Nolan.

"I think he's one of the best film makers around bar none and he's going to continue to make some stunning movies in the future."



Bale said the success of the film had been "an incredible surprise" to him.

"Most of the movies that I've done have bombed," he told reporters.

"I've been referred to as 'box-office poison' quite a lot!"

Speaking of his co-star Ledger, Bale said: "He did an incredible job with The Joker... I enjoyed watching him perform."

He added that Ledger brought an anarchic, Clockwork Orange element to his role.

Gyllenhaal, who played Rachel Dawes, said she was "so glad to be a part" of the success of Batman.

"When I first started making movies I didn't care if anyone saw them, and now I realise I don't want to make movies for the 10 people who feel the same way about the world as I do."

Sir Michael, who is seen as faithful butler Alfred, has already said he would be "very surprised" if Ledger failed to win an Oscar as "one of the greatest villains you've ever seen".

Ledger died in January at the age 28 from an accidental drugs overdose.