Gerard Butler is a performer.
Gerard James Butler ( born 13 November 1969 ) is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film , stage , and television . Although Attila and The Phantom of the Opera were important breaks , it was only in 2007 that Butler gained worldwide recognition for his portrayal of King Leonidas in Zack Snyder 's fantasy war film 300 . That role earned him nominations for an Empire Award for Best Actor and a Saturn Award for Best Actor and a win for MTV Movie Award for Best Fight .