Gerard Butler has come a long way from being a trainee solicitor in Glasgow, becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars – and he’s never short of something to say.
Born in Paisley in 1969, Gerard Butler was head boy at St Mirin’s & St Margaret’s High School before studying law at the University of Glasgow where he became president of the university law society.
He started a job as a trainee lawyer with Morton Fraser in Edinburgh but was sacked just a week before qualifying. He decided to leave the law behind and head to London to find fame.
A meeting with an old friend from the Scottish Youth Theatre led to his first role in Steven Berkoff’s play of Coriolanus, followed by a part in an adaptation of Trainspotting at the Edinburgh Festival. At the age of 30 he decided to move to Los Angeles where he won parts in Dracula 2000, Tomb Raider 2, Dear Frankie, Phantom of the Opera, Reign of Fire and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.
Superstardom – and award nominations – followed with his portrayal of King Leonidas in fantasy war film 300, which led to him being one of the world’s most famous Scots with lead roles in blockbusters like the How to Train Your Dragon films, Greenland, Gods of Egypt, Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen.
Here are 13 funny and revealing things the actor has said in interviews.
1. Gerard Butler on…women
“I love a girl with a good sense of humour, who is confident but who has a sweetness to her – that melts my heart.” Photo: Eugene Gologursky
2. Gerard Butler on…growing up without a dad
“My overwhelming memory of being a child is the huge amount of love I felt for my mum. She was my everything, because she was both my mum and my dad.” Photo: Neilson Barnard
3. Gerard Butler on…studying law
“I wasn’t going to be an actor. I was going to be a lawyer. I came from a family just above working class, just below middle class, a great family of wonderful values. The idea of me having a chance for a law degree was enticing. Enticing to me but also very enticing to my family.” Photo: Chip Somodevilla
4. Gerard Butler on…his big break in ‘300’
“‘300’ was a real turning point in my career. Until then, I felt like a steam train that was slowly chugging to the top of a hill. Now I’m over that hill, my career seems to have its own momentum.” Photo: Sean Gallup
5. Gerard Butler on…his childhood
“I did spend a lot of my childhood playing out movie scenarios in my head. I’d walk along the road, pretending like I was in the army, talking on the radio, and doing maneuvers. I dreamt a lot about performing in movies and living in fantasies.” Photo: Jason Merritt/TERM
6. Gerard Butler on…being a sex symbol
“When I’m 80 and sagging all over, I can tell my grandkids, ‘Look, when I was a lad, ‘People’ magazine thought I was sexy!’” Photo: Kevin Winter
7. Gerard Butler on…Scotland
“I go to Scotland maybe three times a year, and I love it. When I’m at home, I feel at home, I feel myself, I feel connected.” Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez
8. Gerard Butler on…wanting to be an actor
“It was always a dream as I was growing up. I would watch movies, mostly American movies, and be so engrossed in those stories, all I wanted to do was be there. I wanted to be part of that romance or that fantasy or be that warrior or that struggling soul who finally makes it good.” Photo: Juan Naharro Gimenez
9. Gerard Butler on…taking time off
“I see a lot of actors for whom life becomes one big schedule. I guess I try to be more sensitive to my private life – to take a breath of fresh air and be in the countryside or on a golf course.” Photo: Mike Coppola
10. Gerard Butler on…the movies he likes to make
“It’s always more interesting to make a movie about what is relevant in your society. What’s the political global backdrop? What are our threats? What are we vulnerable to? Because that’s what an audience vibes on – that is what people are interested in, universally.” Photo: Michael Caulfield
11. Gerard Butler on…being an action hero
“There’s a great sense of achievement, testosterone, fun, being able to live out your masculinity when you play an action role or an action-adventure or a real tough-guy role.” Photo: Saif Bakshi
12. Gerard Butler on…being Scottish
“In Scotland, I’m just like a lot of other guys, but in America, I’m seen as a very strong, masculine guy.” Photo: Patrick Riviere
13. Gerard Butler on…being in a band
“I sang in a rock band when I was training as a lawyer. You know, not professional, we just did it for fun. We just did gigs all over Edinburgh and some in Glasgow and some at festivals.” Photo: Jason Kempin