Gerard Butler slimmed down after unflattering paparazzi shots

Gerard Butler was spurred on to lose weight after unflattering pictures of him relaxing on holiday hit the headlines.

The Scottish star, who famously bulked up to play a Spartan warrior in 300, stunned film fans recently by sporting a slender new look to portray surfing icon Rick 'Frosty' Hesson in new film Mavericks - but Gerard Butler admits he had another motive to drop the weight.

He tells CNN talk show host Piers Morgan, "I saw those photos and that changed me. I changed my life actually. I was on holiday with a buddy down in Barbados... I was taking some time off and I was eating more and more and I kept thinking I should be careful.

"I was getting in the water and I looked over and I saw a boat in the distance (with photographers on), and I thought 'Oh no'. Even I didn't realise how awful it was going to look. In truth, it didn't look great, it didn't kill me... it did lead me to be a little more (aware) of what I was eating."