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In “Plane”, Gerard Butler (centre) plays a pilot who has to rescue the passengers from several extreme situations.
Dominik HugHead of Department People
He acted in kitsch films, but also in some of Hollywood’s hardest action flicks. Now Gerard Butler strikes again in «Plane». He plays a pilot who crashes his plane on a deserted island. The survivors are kidnapped by natives. Butler must free her from captivity. The film is extremely fast-paced, as is Butler in the five-minute interview with a view.
Blick: Are you never tired of the hero role?
Gerard Butler: No, I could play that forever. Who doesn’t like being the cool, tough guy?
What interested you most about the role?
The script was so damn crass I promised myself I’d have a blast filming it. «Plane» is one of the most entertaining films I’ve ever made. A crazy roller coaster ride, it goes up and down at breakneck speed. These are strips that I like to shoot the most. I don’t want to bore the audience.
You play a pilot who keeps an overview in all extreme situations.
Correct. I wish I was that clear-headed in real life (laughs). For me there is nothing worse than imagining falling in a plane, this terrible powerlessness. With the film, I probably wanted to subconsciously confront this trauma.
One of the worst scenes is the brawl in the jungle. Without a cut, you’ll bang your heads sore for minutes. How did you shoot that?
Yeah, that’s pretty much the point. In a fight, you usually just shoot individual scenes and then put them together. It was all one shot here. I never thought we could actually pull it off. My bones were totally damaged afterwards. But, damn it, I look damn good in a fight!
You are 53 years old. How much longer can you play such physically demanding roles?
Man, I feel like I’m 27. Seriously, for the past few years, I’ve actually felt weirdly in better shape than ever. Well, I’m a bit healthier now, too. On the other hand, I’m not playing a superhero here, but a guy who is completely desperate to survive. And despair is known to unleash the most extreme powers. And here we wanted to be really extreme.
Personally
Born in Scotland, Gerard Butler (53) attended a Catholic school and studied law. In a London café he was approached by a colleague who offered him a role. While filming his first film, Butler saved a child from drowning. His most famous films include “300”, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” with Angelina Jolie (47) and “PS I love you”. The “Has Fallen” trilogy is also a great success.
Born in Scotland, Gerard Butler (53) attended a Catholic school and studied law. In a London café he was approached by a colleague who offered him a role. While filming his first film, Butler saved a child from drowning. His most famous films include “300”, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” with Angelina Jolie (47) and “PS I love you”. The “Has Fallen” trilogy is also a great success.
You make films in chords, are considered a workaholic…
… Right. People often ask me about films that I can hardly remember. Then I always think: Oh yes, it also goes to my account.
Why are you working so much?
I always have the beginning of my career in mind. At that time I begged: Please give me a chance and let me have a go! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I work so much today. And because I’m well aware that you can’t stay in this business for so long on your own. You have to do something for that.
How do you unwind?
I like horseback riding and skiing, but I’m also quite good at just being lazy. The older I get, the more leisurely I take it. It’s no use if at the end of one’s life all that’s left is a long filmography.