“The threat is incredibly real”

BerlinGerard Butler initially headed for a career as a lawyer before he decided to act at the age of 25. The focus of his work is on action films, from “300” to “Geostorm” and “Hunter Killer” to the “Olympus Has Fallen” series. His new film “Greenland”, which he produced himself and which is currently showing in German cinemas, is no exception. We were able to make a video call with the winner of the Golden Camera.

Berlin newspaper: Mr. Butler, in your new film “Greenland” you are once again playing a heroic warrior who saves his family and himself from the impending end of the world. When was the last time you were a hero in real life?

Gerard Butler: Many years ago in Scotland I saved a boy from drowning and therefore received an honor for my courage. But I wouldn’t call that heroic. However, I am actually very interested in how a man can be a hero in everyday life, an upright warrior with an impeccable spirit. There is a kind of therapeutic program called “The Hero’s Journey”, a kind of guide to male self-discovery. I’ve been working intensively on this for some time. So hopefully I’m on my way to becoming a real hero (laughs).

Is the impression deceptive or do you feel most comfortable in front of the camera in action roles?

I see myself as an actor, not an action actor, if that’s what you mean. And at the beginning of my career I would never have dreamed in my life that the fans would associate my name primarily with action. Back then, I was mainly making British independent films. But then of all things the miniseries “Attila – The Hun” and the computer game adaptation “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” were the projects with which I achieved something like a breakthrough. On the one hand, I noticed that I liked body-hugging roles, on the other hand, I was initially careful not to let myself be committed to them. Then a few years later came the role of King Leonidas in “300”, which I just had to play. And it became a huge success. From then on, the thing kind of a sure-fire success. That doesn’t mean that I don’t make completely different films, Shakespeare adaptations, comedies or little thrillers. They just don’t always find such a large audience.

“Greenland” is now about the impending end of the world. This is caused by a comet impact, not by climate change. But disaster scenarios are actually becoming more and more real for all of us, aren’t they?

Indeed, and I often think about how close we as a civilization are to the abyss. When I look at our climate and the state of the environment, the end seems to me as unstoppable as a comet, only more creeping. At least I don’t have the impression that we are pushing changes quickly and sufficiently. That’s quite a shitty feeling. Especially here in Los Angeles, the threat has been incredibly real again in recent weeks. For the fourth year in a row, the worst fires raged and you could see the clouds of smoke day in and day out in almost all of California. Terrible.

Two years ago, your Malibu home fell victim to such a fire. Weren’t you thinking of turning your back on California then?

I’ve been thinking about leaving California since moving here (laughs). But what should I do, I just love it here. Even if, in the face of worsening fires, floods, storms and droughts, I sometimes feel like the frog in the pot realizing too late that the water is slowly starting to boil. Because even in California we literally feel that it is getting hotter from year to year.

After the losses in the fire two years ago, have you started to think differently about possessions and the important things in life?

Above all, I have since appreciated that I am alive more than ever and am happy to have my family and friends. But of course, the thing was also a lesson in terms of non-ties. I had no choice but to learn that you can actually replace everything you have. The loss of the property itself actually hurt me more than the things in my house. Suddenly there was this strange feeling that I had abandoned my house and property because I could not save them. Not that I could have done much. But I wasn’t there.

Speaking of home, in your current home, like most of us, you will have spent more time than ever in the past few months. Are you one of those people who discovered baking for themselves?

Sure, cakes and biscuits, which cannot be overlooked (laughs). You have to decide whether it was a joke or if you can really picture me in the oven. In any case, I was able to learn something from the situation. Being at home, having some peace and quiet to think about, spending time with my close friends – that was something.

Didn’t the ceiling fall on your head?

Fortunately, my mobile home prevented that. I have always made longer tours in nature, in the desert of Arizona or the mountains of Northern California. A wonderful compensation that made the situation generally much more bearable.

Where will you be first drawn when you can travel with confidence again?

Without question to Scotland to see my family, whom I really miss. I also love my old home, it is one of the most beautiful places on our planet. If I just think of the Highlands and the Scottish West Coast, I have a lump in my throat, it pains me so much that I haven’t been there this year.

You once studied law and worked in law firms before you went to London to become famous. Has this background ever brought you anything in your second career as an actor?

For sure. In law school I learned a way of thinking and analyzing that influences my script reading and text learning today. The experience also helps me with negotiations because I know how contracts are structured and how they work. But the most helpful thing about starting out as a lawyer was that I didn’t jump into acting too early. That might not have been so good for me – and I might not have made it as far as it is now.

– .