Source:  Total Film Issue 80.

Gerard Butler Interview.
Lara Croft's partner in Tomb Raiding on soccer, singing, and how he didnt diss Miss Jolie...

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 Angelinas?
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 failture. 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.

....interview continued below

'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 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 honour if it came to me. Trainspotting was the coolest movie. It defined an age. So yes, the idea would be very tempting.



Other interview snippets:

I had issues with the codpiece at the start, but not
anymore. The first time I tried it on, I didnt even have my cape on - just trainers, black socks and this leather codpiece - and I coudl see the smirks and I was dreading months of this. But the funny thing is that now they dont blink an eye, and I dont think about it. And when you work out so hard, you're suddenly proud of the way you look. I am pretty much happy to walk around naked every chance I get, because as soon as this movie finishes it'll all disappear again.


Trivia: Mark Twight, a former professional mountaineer and current consultant for US army special operations was hried to train Butler and co for three months, exercising 6 hours a day.


Was the love scene with Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider pre-choreographed or improvised?

Gerard Butler: "If you’ve seen the scene, then you [only] see part of it because part of it is this kind of fighting involved, and slapping my wrist. You got to choreograph that, otherwise, you got nothing but a broken wrist. But then, there’s part of the scene where it’s like 'Just let it go, go for it. Release your passions', which we were building up for a long time, in terms of our characters. It’s a very hot, passionate, steamy scene".

Have Scottish actors become hotter properties in recent years?

Gerard Butler: "Yeah, they are and I think there are a lot of reasons for that. Some people would say that Scottish actors are “en vogue” at the moment. I think that’s crap because half the time, they have to do other accents. Why would you say, 'Let’s take this guy because he’s Scottish!' I’m sure, at the end of the day, a studio here would rather put an American in a role if they could. It’s more of a gamble to put somebody who’s Scottish. But also, accents are interesting and the world is becoming a smaller place in terms of that and I think the Americans are far more broad-minded than the British. It’s tough for an American to star in a British movie unless they’re a huge star. America is much more the land of the opportunity. And also, I think a lot of great actors have come out of there to prove their worth: Ewan McGregor, Alan Cumming, Robert Carlyle, Ian Bannon, Sean Connery, Brian Cox. You still have to fight for the job, I don’t think you get it just because your country is “en vogue.”