Gerard Butler Interview on Tomb Raider, Angelina Jolie, The Game of their Lives, Phantom of the Opera and Trainspotting.
Source: Total Film Issue 80.
How was it working with Angelina Jolie?
She’s an amazing actress. She knows exactly what she wants, but she listens, to.
So what about that interview where you were quoted saying you had to bring down the level of your acting to match Angelina’s?
I was totally joking. Everyone at that magazine knew it was a joke, which is why they printed a retraction. And I’ll tell you something – it makes me quite emotional when I think about this. I’m a nice guy on set. I get on with everybody. I work hard. Then one little joke gets taken out of context and people starting thinking “He’s a bit of a twat”.
Has the whole experience made you more guarded when you have to sit down and do an interview? Yeah. It’s like when I was filming Natural History (drama about a deaf nine year old boy) with Emily Mortimer in Scotland. All the Scottish Press said, “Why are you back in Scotland”, like I’m a failure. I explained that I’d just done a couple of big movies and I thought it was time to do something smaller. And they immediately took that as a slight against Hollywood. I’m too f*cking scared to say anything now.
‘The game of their lives’ is the true story of a US football team beating England in 1950. Must have been a pleasure to do….
That was a big part of it! I can’t see the Scots beating the English for the next century so, if I have to travel Stateside and put on a funny accent, it’s worth it.
And you’re playing the lead in Joel Schumacher’s Phantom of the Opera’s adaptation. How’s your singing coming along?
I took some lessons before I met Joel. By the fourth session, my screech had gone and I had this voice. Then I went to sing for Andrew Lloyd Webber, in his house. The producer was there, Joel was there and Andrew was there… And then I sang. It was a horrible experience. I’m standing in front of the piano having had about five lessons, and I’m singing to Andrew Lloyd Webber. But it was worth it – it’s a great part.
There’s a lot of talk about Trainspotting sequel. Would you play Renton if Ewan Mcgregor refuses to come back? You’ve played him on stage…
That’s the first I’ve heard of it, but my first thought is that it would be a great honor if it came to me. Trainspotting was the coolest movie. It defined an age. So yes, the idea would be very tempting.
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