How Gerard Butler Got Spartan Abs in 300

This is Gerard Butler, aka King Leonidas of Sparta in the movie “300.” Yes, he’s the one up front in the picture above. Full of computer-generated imagery, one would think that his abs in the Frank Miller-novel-inspired blockbuster movie about the Battle of Thermopylae were the result of an artist’s skill in image manipulation software. But, no. Butler actually worked out to have those abs. “I knew to get that extreme power, and exude that authority and leadership and that potential violence and brutality, that I wanted to earn that,” said Butler, who played the title role in 2004’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Butler began his intense workout four months before a boot camp which allowed him to experience a Spartan warrior’s life. He maintained the program throughout the 60-day shoot. A memorable experience for him was the bear crawl in which he had to race with fellow actors on hands and feet after grueling squats. He injured his hip flexor muscle in the process. The workout program that he went through is now known as the Spartan workout.

Director Zack Snyder says, “You don’t look at a bunch of Spartans and go, “I wonder which guy is going to pop out and be the king. In one shot you want to go, ‘OK, that’s him,’ and that was how I felt about Gerry.”

For a look at the “Spartan training” of Butler, go to http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/ and open Making of 300 > Video Journals > 3. Spartan Training.

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Find it hard to get Spartan abs? Then get the next best thing. Buy the Leonidas talking ab action figure! It talks: "Tonight, we dine in hell!" It's enough of a reminder for you not to eat too much.

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