'How To Train Your Dragon' star Gerard Butler rates Matilda’s Scottish accent

Gerard Butler might be a Hollywood tough guy, but it turns out even he can bring a Kiwi radio host to tears.

Chatting to Matty and Matilda on The Hits Drive Show, the How To Train Your Dragon star opened up about stepping back into the role of Stoick in the brand new live-action remake - this time, not just with his voice, but in full Viking glory.

“It was more challenging,” Butler said. “I had to wear a 90-pound costume … but [it gave me] the chance to really transform into Stoick. The sets were mindblowing, and we were performing with these huge puppeted Dragons with puppeteers moving them, which really helped in the emotional parts.”

"At points, [you] could actually feel like you were dealing with a living creature."

Matty confessed he was left “sobbing” during one of Stoick’s emotional father-son moments with Hiccup. Even Butler admitted the scene got his publicist misty-eyed too.

The trio also joked about rugby confusion, his Kiwi co-star Julian Dennison - who Gerard called “the final nail in the coffin” when it came to avoiding New Zealanders ... all in good fun, of course, and whether Butler has ever been to Aotearoa (spoiler: not yet!).

Before they signed off, Matilda had one final challenge for the Scottish star - rating her Highland accent, after she revealed she uses accents while reading. Butler gave it a solid 8/10, saying she “pushed it a little,” but nailed the sound.

Check out the full interview above to hear Gerard’s behind-the-scenes secrets for the new How To Train Your Dragon movie - out June 12.

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