Gerard Butler talks action heroes
Posted by Lorrie LynchEvery now and then my magazine readers respond overwhelmingly to a particular actor. I'll be scrolling through the hundreds of questions I get each month and realize that I have dozens about one guy. When I first started writing my Who's News column it was Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver, who commanded attention. Since then there have been many, among them Mark Harmon for any of his series, Kevin Sorbo in Hercules, Joe Lando in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, David James Elliott in J.A.G., George Clooney in ER, Chris Noth of Sex and the City, Colin FIrth after the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, Vincent D'Onofrio from Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and since his sexy performance in the movie version of The Phantom of the Opera, the very handsome Gerard Butler. In fact, I still get lots of questions about Butler, whom we also saw in 300 and will see again April 4 when his Nim's Island, with Jodie Foster, opens, so L.A. writer Nancy Mills took the opportunity to converse. (You can watch the Nim's Island trailer below.)
They ended up talking about action heroes. More specifically, why many of America’s recent action heroes — for instance, Spider-Man’s Tobey Maguire and X-Men’s James Marsden — don’t look too tough. “In general, I think that men in America grow up more as boys,” says Butler, 38, who was raised in Scotland. “It seems to be a physical thing. Even if they’re big and pumped, they still have a boyishness about them. In a way, maybe they’re lucky. In America, you have such a broad spectrum. I hate to say it but boyishness appeals because it satisfies everybody. It works on both coasts and the Midwest.”
Butler wants to make sure we make clear that this is a comment, not a criticism. “They might be boys,” he adds, “but there are some incredible actors among them.” As for his own manly looks, he says, “I definitely think, having grown up in Europe and also lived in America, that people in Europe mature faster. But I shouldn’t generalize because sometimes you run into someone like Abigail Breslin (his co-star in Nim’s Island), who’s 12 and is more mature than I am. Or Emmy Rossum, who was 16 when she started The Phantom of the Opera and who was so intelligent and so mature it was kind of scary, actually.”
Comments (15)
Love GB in anything hes in, he is absolutely the most beautiful man that I have ever seen!!
But Gerard, I will meet you, date you and marry you... it's destiny, wait for me, I'm not telling you my name.
Gerard- shame on you for making a generalized statement about American boys. I am proud to say (or rather shout) that the Midwest of America is full of men...manly men that are of Scottish, Irish, and Welsh descent...warriors who are quite qualified to kill Persians, till the soil and build barns- all in one day. Please take note that part of America is still in touch with their Highland "Cattle Economy" and "Warrior Society".
What can I say...Gerad pronounced Gerat, not Ger-Ard!! Even the lady that did this interview did not say his name correctly, LOL! Anyway, I started to take notice in Gerard, Gerad in the movie...PS I love you. I saw the Movie 300 but he looks so diffrent. He looked Greek. I started to look him up on the web. I fell in love with this one and only man, Gerard Butler. He comes across very down to earth, yet a real manly man, no one can top that! This man has something extra special,(he should be the next 007 Bond Man) I just hope that he gets his chance to prove it to the whole world. I will be there to tell everyone..."I told you so!" The bonus..is he has a very sexy voice. I just want to watch those lips! He has something essentially different from American men actors. He not only brings sexy back. He brings passion and true romance like no other and it feels so real. I can't get enough!!!
Yes I do agree w/ GB updates. And he is so incredibly kind to all his fans. And man oh man can he ever sing good!!!! He has always struck me as being very intelligent and "fiercly protective" of his roles. He does DIVE into his roles as much as a diver who goes into the sea. He just keeps getting better and better. God bless him and may his days be bright w/ much prosperity. You go Gerry!!!
The other men mentioned are sexy and attractive as well as being fine actors, however, Vincent D'Onofrio has them all beat when it comes to sensual charisma and superb acting skills!
Whether Vincent is skinny, slim, muscular, well-built, slightly overwirght, heavy, or obese doesn't matter. All he has to do is look out from the screen with those intelligent yet innocent brown eyes, smile that shy but sexy half smile, flash that smile, or tilt his head in that endearingly quirky manner and I melt!
But it is his acting that keeps me mesmerize and always coming back for more. Pretty faces come and go, but a strong interesting man just keeps improving with age!
I became a fan of Gerard Butler 4yrs ago after seeing him in Phantom Of The Opera.
He nailed that role as he does with every role
he takes on.
He is a phenomonal actor, and a warm caring
human being as well.
This fan is on his team for the duration.
You go Gerry!! We love ya!!
I too am sorry about those other guys. Gerry is the most Human actor and all around Awesome Man on the face of this earth. He started His movie career in a film that He thought people didn't like Him in. I heard His voice, went back to see who was talking and I fell in love with the Man at that moment in 1997 in "Mrs. Brown" and have never stopped loving Him and His acting since. Gerry is more than amazing. He knows how to 'BE' the character He portrays. He puts His whole self into His roles. That to me is awesome acting. Never mind the fact that the Man is absolutely awesome to look at. As sexy as a Man can get. And kind as well. Every woman that I have watched talk about Gerry has made the same comment...."He's Amazing"! and He is. His ability to be so many different characters and to do them all so well, is astounding to me. And to stay 'Human' is another accomplishment not to be overlooked. Gerry is going places and look out world, He Is as Amazing as you can get!!!!
Gerard Butler is an amazing actor..He captures every part he plays. He is handsome, charming and my favorite actor and I see him going far...he has come a long way as is it...Love him!
Gerard Butler is the real man compared to any of those boys that keep making movies. I am sorry, but they are. He knows what he wants to do and goes out achieving it time and time again. The establishment tries to overlook him but, the fans keep reminding them Gerry is out there and we want more of him in movies. Nim's Island has him playing two characters. Grreat.
Gerry is basicly low key because he is comfortable with himself and not into the star statis the other boys are. He is just a guy doing a job he loves and his job is acting. Keep up your way of doing things Gerry.
I'm a huge Butler fan since Phantom and love most of his roles so far. However, I don't agree at all with his comment that European's mature faster or whatever than Americans. The UK is chock full of boozing, sexually promiscous hooligans. Further, the UK and European birth rate is so low that it won't be long before their population is increased only by immigration. To me, the European aversion to parenthood on such a large scale smacks of a huge measure of very selfish, childish adults who only want to live a carefree, irresponsible adult life.
lack of maturity in their culture.
Gerard Butler is definitely the "MAN FOR ALL TIME". He is super intelligent ( has a law degree and was president of the law society of Glasgow University), has a warm heart, kind spirit, loves and respects his mother, country, and fans; can believably play any character from Dracula, to King of Sparta, to loving father in a children's movie, and has voiced a documentary and children's
animated movies. OH, THAT VOICE. Not to mention that he is absolutely GORGEOUS, INSIDE AND OUT. What more could anyone ever ask.
I second the comment about Richard Dean Anderson. "McGyver" was cute, but "Jack O'Neill" is even better. Thank goodness for SG1 reruns!
However, Vincent D'onofrio as "Bobby Goren" is as good as it gets!!!!!!!!!!!!! Daily doses of Criminal Intent reruns keep me going!
Richard Dean Anderson is still at the top of many womens list of men to dool over er I mean talk about. Time has only improved him.
lorrie -- you're right that Butler seems to be "the guy" I hear women talking about most these days. I'm surprised he's managed to stay relatively below-the-radar thus far. You should have regular Gerard Butler updates. I bet you'll find the same overwhelming, underserved audience for this that you did for Kevin Sorbo, etc.