His frame is casually draped across the settee of the plush hotel room, a TV remote control idly held in his hand. I position myself on the couch opposite, all cheesy chipmunk-grinned at meeting the man many a woman throughout the world has been known to swoon over.
But as he indolently continues to flip through the channels while my limited interview time ticks on, a distinct sense of indignation overrides all initial (fleeting) urges to prostrate myself at his feet.
My eyes search the room in the hope one of his “people” will call him to order, but they’ve all retreated to… well, wherever it is publicity posses retreat to when they pretend not to be monitoring your every word.
A thought suddenly strikes me: “Am I being punked?”
Hearty laughter crinkles the corners of his craggy features and finally Gerard Butler (pictured) speaks: “I was wondering if you would say anything. You just sat there, so politely.”
Okay, so he was just pretending to be a (insert another name for “donkey” here). What sweet relief!
On to more pressing matters – like the fact the plot of the film in which he currently stars is eerily similar to events playing out on the Korean peninsula.
“It is an eerie coincidence. I would hope the film would survive on its own as an entity in so far as it being a great piece of entertainment,” he expounds.
“But I get the sense that one of the reasons the movie has done so well is because of just how deep the idea of freedom and terrorism and how vulnerable we are as a society, sits within the audience. Especially now that the situation (in North Korea) is heightened and has become that much more critical, it’s made the movie that much more pertinent.”
A fair comment. But as I point out, the plot itself isn’t one that will soon be winning any accolades for originality.
States an emphatic Butler: “Look, no movie is ever going to make everybody happy. It’s an action movie and (ironically) action movies will always be criticised for that. But, in terms of trying to tell a story, Olympus has a lot going on.
“It was very important for me and Antoine (Fuqua), our director, to one, get the best cast of actors possible and two, make those characters as real and human as possible.
“Despite the context being that of an action thriller, that was actually our focus.”
Butler’s use of “me” and “our” is not accidental – nor is it the inflated pronouncements of an actor on a power trip, for that matter. He not only takes on the central character in the film, but adopted the difficult role of producer as well. Given that these two titles can often find themselves on opposite ends of the vested interest scale, Butler took great pains to perfect this precarious balancing act.
“It’s a fine line to walk in terms of how you split your time – especially in terms of how much time you give to the character, which is one that required a lot of training,” he says of his dual designation. “Then you’re also off working on and constantly developing the script with the director and even before the movie, you’re involved in the casting process, fighting over budgets, fighting for locations…”
As if that weren’t sufficient to keep the man’s mind in overdrive, Butler admits he was also acutely aware of the fact he was working with far more experienced big name performers.
“Every time Morgan Freeman walked on set, I had to pinch myself!”
Aw, bless. Even the likes of Butler get star-struck.
Later that evening, I spot Butler on the red carpet at the film’s premiere. The professional part of our interaction concluded, I don my groupie cap and request a photo.
“You!” he bellows. “You asked some f***ing difficult questions! You don’t deserve a photograph!”
His native Scottish brogue battling to break through his adopted American accent as the impish side of his personality pushes to the forefront.
I did? Hmm. No matter. Now smile for the camera, Gerry. Just smile and wave…