Christian Bale "never planned" to get married.

The Dark Knight Rises actor admits seeing his loved ones divorce when he was young meant he didn't hold the institution in high regard but soon changed his mind when he met make-up artist Sandra "Sibi" Blazic, whom he went on to marry in 2000.

"I never planned to marry. Everyone was divorced in my family so I didn't have very healthy ideas about marriage. Then I met Sibi and suddenly it seemed a fantastic idea," he said.

Christian and Sibi have a seven-year-old daughter Emmeline and the actor thinks being a father is the "best thing ever." He added to East Living magazine, "Nothing can prepare you for fatherhood. It's the best thing ever. I don't want to leave my daughter's side for one second."

While Christian is very close to his wife and daughter, the same cannot be said of his relationship with his mother Jenny or sister Sharon, whom he hasn't spoken to since a furious row at his London hotel before the UK premiere of The Dark Knight four years ago.