Would you do what Christian did in the movie?
Eat live maggots?
Be tied upside down with an ant hill on your face?
Kill and eat a live snake?
I'm a female and I would definitely not do any of those horrible things for a movie.
It was not a real snake. Filmmakers are not allowed to do anything that would harm live animals. Plus, Bale is known to be an animal lover and a vegetarian. As dedicated as he is to his work, I don't think he would take it that far.
The things you own end up owning you.