In the epic battle movie '300,' the highly anticipated film version of Frank Miller's graphic novel, Gerard Butler plays the very badass and extremely toned Leonidas, king of Sparta. The hunky star chatted with us via AIM about tight abs, cool battle scenes and his sexy co-star Lena Headey.
GerardButler300: hi
MoviefoneCapulet: how goes it - long day?
GerardButler300: yes, very long
MoviefoneCapulet: epic maybe? like 300 ...
GerardButler300: yes and still mid-battle
MoviefoneCapulet: hang in there... so i'll kick this off by asking - how was it to go from the musical Phantom to being the action hero?
GerardButler300: both presented extreme challenges
GerardButler300: but both felt to me like they were worth it because they were epic stories
MoviefoneCapulet: how was it different from anything you've done before?
GerardButler300: because i was twice the size i've ever been!
GerardButler300: but also ...
GerardButler300: i knew i was making something exceptionally fresh, powerful and masculine that would blow the audience away GerardButler300: and be both pure entertainment and inspirational all at the same time
MoviefoneCapulet: it's definitely got a ton to offer the senses
MoviefoneCapulet: getting to the size thing -
GerardButler300: yes ...
MoviefoneCapulet: i understand you all had to undergo different diets
MoviefoneCapulet: what was yours?
GerardButler300: my diet had various stages
MoviefoneCapulet: feast or famine?
GerardButler300: from memory i went from famine to feast to famine again over the course of the film
GerardButler300: when focusing on building size or cutting fat or toning
GerardButler300: i pretty much ate every two to three hours
GerardButler300: lots of protein but also some healthy fats
MoviefoneCapulet: any secrets you can tell us guys about getting that washboard ab thing? i only ask because i personally really want to know
GerardButler300: land a lead in a large hollywood film where they ask you to play a ridiculously over the top warrior
GerardButler300: seriously ...
MoviefoneCapulet: hah - that's probably true
GerardButler300: what it takes is sustaining over a long period of time and faith - cutting carbs after lunch
GerardButler300: and lots of cardio broken into interval training and loads of sit-ups
Go to part 2
GerardButler300: hi
MoviefoneCapulet: how goes it - long day?
GerardButler300: yes, very long
MoviefoneCapulet: epic maybe? like 300 ...
GerardButler300: yes and still mid-battle
MoviefoneCapulet: hang in there... so i'll kick this off by asking - how was it to go from the musical Phantom to being the action hero?
GerardButler300: both presented extreme challenges
GerardButler300: but both felt to me like they were worth it because they were epic stories
MoviefoneCapulet: how was it different from anything you've done before?
GerardButler300: because i was twice the size i've ever been!
GerardButler300: but also ...
GerardButler300: i knew i was making something exceptionally fresh, powerful and masculine that would blow the audience away GerardButler300: and be both pure entertainment and inspirational all at the same time
MoviefoneCapulet: it's definitely got a ton to offer the senses
MoviefoneCapulet: getting to the size thing -
GerardButler300: yes ...
MoviefoneCapulet: i understand you all had to undergo different diets
MoviefoneCapulet: what was yours?
GerardButler300: my diet had various stages
MoviefoneCapulet: feast or famine?
GerardButler300: from memory i went from famine to feast to famine again over the course of the film
GerardButler300: when focusing on building size or cutting fat or toning
GerardButler300: i pretty much ate every two to three hours
GerardButler300: lots of protein but also some healthy fats
MoviefoneCapulet: any secrets you can tell us guys about getting that washboard ab thing? i only ask because i personally really want to know
GerardButler300: land a lead in a large hollywood film where they ask you to play a ridiculously over the top warrior
GerardButler300: seriously ...
MoviefoneCapulet: hah - that's probably true
GerardButler300: what it takes is sustaining over a long period of time and faith - cutting carbs after lunch
GerardButler300: and lots of cardio broken into interval training and loads of sit-ups
Go to part 2