Gerard Butler must have the most famous abs in the film business, thanks to his muscular performance as King Leonidas in 300. But the 43-year-old Scotsman has proven he’s more than just beefcake, and has shown serious versatility in musicals (The Phantom of the Opera), action films (Law Abiding Citizen) and romances (P.S. I Love You).
In his latest, Playing for Keeps, which opens this week in the US, Butler plays a former soccer star trying to recharge his life and maintain a relationship with his young son.
One of the teams you supposedly played for in this new film is Glasgow Celtic, a team you’ve rooted for all your life. They recently beat Barcelona, which is like a college team beating the Yankees. What was that like for you?
I was in Dubai, of all places. I was in the middle of a dinner with important people, and I said we had to get to an Irish pub to watch the game. I was crying, I had tears in my eyes, I had everyone around congratulating me. It brings up something so primal, so old, it was a lifetime of pride and joy and tragedy that you’ve been through with this club. Results like this are so few and far between. It was a really powerful moment.
So I assume playing a soccer star, and co-starring with incredibly beautiful women like Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, were what attracted you to this film.
They were both seducing factors. I read the script, and I thought it was hilarious; it was Shampoo meets Meet the Parents, meets About a Boy. These women are trying to get their claws into him, and he’s trying to stop being a philanderer. Then there was something very sexy in the movie, to have these beautiful women trying to seduce you. And I thought it really touching, gives the audience something to think about, lost love, second chances, father-son relationship. I find those themes fascinating and moving.
You actually trained as a lawyer but gave it up to become an actor. Are you still interested in the law?
It’s so completely out of my life. When I trained as a lawyer, I trained with a civil firm in Edinburgh that was very old school, and we did everything from corporate law to litigation, everything I pretty much had no interest in. I had an interest when I was studying it. There was a romantic notion to being a lawyer, but the more I dealt with the reality, I realised it was not where my talents were, it didn’t pique my interest, and I didn’t want to do something that didn’t excite me.
After you made
No. It didn’t bother me. I know a lot of people who tell me, “I watched that movie, and now I go to the gym.” What bothered me was people telling me I was wearing a body suit. I worked too hard for you to deny me working so hard. I wanted to try and look like a sculpture, like Leonidas deserved to look. I wanted to be big, and cut. I think that movie worked on so many levels, and people appreciated it for more than the abs; it’s about team spirit, sacrifice and honour.
You recently got into a very serious accident while shooting the surfing film
Right now, I’m looking for a cool action project. I’m a complete idiot, and I have to learn a lesson 10 times. The one thing I do think is I have to not take so many risks in movies. Me being in Mavericks was maybe not a great idea. ... But that’s all part of the challenge. I love the challenges. You have these panicked moments, but they’re the jobs that give me the most satisfaction. I think it’s my Scottish spirit.
Speaking of your Scottish roots, it seems Scotland will be holding a referendum in 2014 on whether or not to leave the United Kingdom. What’s your opinion on the matter?
I used to have stronger feelings for an independent Scotland. But now I’m more federal. Coming together, rather than a separation, is a better idea. I think some separate taxation, more of a connection with local government, but I don’t think an independent Scotland, I’m not 100% sold on the idea. — Newsday/MCT