Gerard Butler talks uncle advice

Gerard Butler encourages his four nieces to behave badly.

The 45-year-old actor is a proud uncle and tries to head back to his native Scotland to visit the girls as often as possible.

But rather than teach them sensible life lessons, the Hollywood star takes a laidback approach.

“The best in the world of course!” he laughed to German magazine Für Sie when asked what he’s like as an uncle. “Thanks to them, I know how to handle women. And I always encourage the girls to behave badly every now and again – just like my aunt did with me!”

It seems Gerard took her advice to heart, as he had some rebellious moments in his youth. He even spent one night in a cell after a few too many.

“It’s just a thing with us Scots: when we’re drunk, we want to climb something,” he explained. “I left the pub and ran towards a car, nudged it a bit and jumped on the roof. It’s a shame it was a police car… I shouted ‘Sorry!’ but of course the cops just said, ‘Get in.’”

These days he’s a bit more relaxed and devotes most of his time to making movies. He’s played everything from the besotted husband in P.S. I Love You to the warring King Leonidas in 300.

The fact he’s always jetting off to location no longer worries the star.

“It used to bother me, but not anymore,” he admitted. “I’ve just changed my attitude: long-haul flights are the only time I can’t be reached and no one can demand anything of me. Nowadays I’m very aware of that and use the time accordingly: I listen to music, meditate or watch films I haven’t had the time to see.”

After a quiet year with no films, Gerard has four planned next year: Den of Thieves, London Has Fallen, Geostorm and Gods of Egypt. There’s also action-thriller Hunter Killer, which is yet to set a release date.