Birth nameGerard James Butler Birth information13 November 1969, Glasgow, Scotland, UK BioBorn in Glasgow, Scotland, to Margaret and Edward Butler, Gerard Butler was raised (along with his older brother and sister) in his mother's hometown of Paisley, Scotland. He also spent some of his youth in Canada. His parents divorced when he was a child, and he and his siblings were raised primarily by their mother, who later remarried. He had no contact with his father between the ages of two and 16 years old, after which time they became close. His father passed away when Gerard was in his early 20s. Butler went on to attend Glasgow University, where he studied to be a lawyer/solicitor. He was president of the school's law society thanks to his outgoing personality and great social skills.His acting career began when he was approached in a London coffee shop by actor Steven Berkoff, who later appeared alongside Butler in Attila (2001/I) (TV), who gave him a role in a stage production of Coriolanus. After that Butler decided to give up law for acting. He was cast as Ewan McGregor's character Renton in the stage adaptation of [i]Trainspotting[/i]. His film debut was as Billy Connolly's younger brother in _Mrs. Brown (1997)_. While filming the movie in Scotland, he was enjoying a picnic with his mother, near the River Tay, when they heard the shouts of a young boy who had been swimming with a friend who was in some trouble. Butler jumped in and saved the young boy from drowning. He received a Certificate of Bravery from the Royal Humane Society. He felt he only did what anyone in the situation would have done.His film career continued with small roles, first in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and then Russell Mulcahy's Tale of the Mummy (1998). In 2000, Butler was cast in two breakthrough roles, the first being Attila the Hun in the USA film Attila (2001/I) (TV). The film's producers wanted a known actor to play the part but kept coming back to Butler's screen tests and decided he was their man. He had to lose the thick Scottish accent, but managed well. Around the time Attila was being filmed, casting was in progress for Wes Craven's new take on the Dracula legacy. Also wanting a known name, Butler wasn't much of a consideration. His unending tenacity and drive drove him to hounding the producers. Eventually, he sent them a clip of his portrayal of Attila. Evidently they saw something because Dracula 2000 (2000) was cast in the form of Butler. Attila's producers, thinking that his big-screen role might help with their own film's ratings, finished shooting a little early so he could get to work on Dracula 2000 (2000). Attila ended up being the second highest-rated TV movie ever. Following these two roles, Butler developed quite a fan base, an Internet site and began appearing on lists everywhere.Since then he has appeared in Reign of Fire (2002) as Creedy and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) as Terry Sheridan, alongside Angelina Jolie. The role that garnered him most attention from both moviegoers and movie makers alike was that of Andre Marek in the big-screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel Timeline (2003). Butler played an archaeologist who was sent back in time with a team of students to rescue a colleague. Last year he appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera (2004), playing the title character in the successful adaptation of the stage musical. It was a role that brought him much international attention. Other projects include Dear Frankie (2004), The Game of Their Lives (2005) and Beowulf & Grendel (2005).In 2007 he starred as Spartan King Leonidas in the Warner Bros. production 300 (2006), based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, and Butterfly on a Wheel (2007) co-starring Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello, which aired on network TV under the title Shattered. He most recently starred in P.S. I Love You (2007) with Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank .In 2007, he appeared in Nim's Island (2008) and RocknRolla (2008), and recently completed the new Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor film Gamer (2009). His latest film The Ugly Truth (2009) co-starring Katherine Heigl began filming in April 2008.

Ralph Fiennes is ready to take on the arduous task of producing, directing and starring in a modern version of Shakespeare's Roman tragedy, Coriolanus. Fiennes will tackle the lead role of Gaius Martius Coriolanus and Gerard Butler, hot off starring in and producing Law Abiding Citizen, will play General Tullus Aufidius of the Volscian army, a sworn enemy of Gaius Martius.
William Hurt and Vanessa Redgrave are also on board Fiennes' directorial debut. John Logan (The Aviator, The Last Samurai) adapted the screenplay. The Hollywood Reporter says filming is expected to begin in March in Serbia.
Shakespeare's tale follows one of Rome's greatest soldiers, Coriolanus, whose political aspirations are thwarted by two tribunes, Brutus and Sicinius. Banished from Rome after he rails against the system, Coriolanus joins with Rome's enemies, the Volscians. Fighting beside his former enemy Tullus Aufidius, Coriolanus and the Volscian army march on Rome. But after Coriolanus' mother, »

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Lots of casting news this week, and here is a short summary of who will star in what soon:
• Sigourney Weaver and Alia Shawkat are joining John C. Reilly, Ed Helms and Anne Heche in Miguel Arteta's comedy "Cedar Rapids," about man (Helms) sent to represent his company and save his colleagues' jobs at a regional insurance conference in Cedar Rapids. (Variety)
• Gerard Butler ("Law Abiding Citizen") is in talks to join Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut "Coriolanus," an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Roman tragedy. Butler would play Tullus Aufidius, commander of the Volscian army. Also on board: Fiennes, William Hurt, Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain. (THR) »
- Franck Tabouring

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Way back in February it was announced that actor Ralph Fiennes would make his debut as a director on a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Coriolanus. THR announces, from the on-going American Film Market this week, that Gerard Butler has been cast in the lead role opposite Fiennes, who will also be acting as well as directing. Butler will play Tullus Aufidius, commander of the Volscian army. He joins a cast that includes William Hurt, Eddie Marsan, Jessica Chastain and Vanessa Redgrave. The script was written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Last Samurai). Shooting starts in March next year in Serbia. Coriolanus is a play that's not often taught in schools and most people probably haven't read. It's set in the early years of the Roman Republic, however it sounds like Fiennes has contemporized it instead. The story follows Roman military leader Caius Martius, who returns home from »
- Alex Billington

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