Gerard Butler Reveals He Hospitalized Hilary Swank on 'P.S. I Love You' Set

The actor, 53, revealed to presenter Drew Barrymore on The Drew Barrymore Show on Tuesday that he hurt Swank, 48, while they were filming a sequence in the 2007 movie where he danced "like an idiot" in boxer shorts and suspenders.

Butler explained that during a scene in the movie where Gerry Kennedy was getting dressed, the suspender clip was supposed to strike him in the face, but it shattered and struck Swank in the head instead.

"I literally shot that scene for a day and a half and I had to dance like an idiot in the suspenders," Butler explained. "At one point, the clip, which was a crocodile clip, got stuck in the television as I'm crawling towards her and she's right in front of me and she's laughing hysterically." 

He said the camera team used plastic covers to shield themselves from the "so dangerous" clip on his suspenders.

"I had to ping it, and it would go past my face. And this time I'm crawling towards the bed. It gets stuck," he said of the clip. "It releases, flies over my head, hits her in the head, slashes her head. I cut her open." 

He said Swank was transported to the hospital, leaving him sobbing on the set. Gerard also details how everybody was gone from the studio seconds after the incident while he was in shorts and socks before he eventually broke into tears, saying, "'I just scarred Hilary Swank!' I almost took her eye out and I just made a fool of myself for two days and this is what I have to show for it. She's off to the hospital."

Based on Cecelia Ahern's 2004 novel of the same name, Richard LaGravenese's film P.S. I Love You follows a widow who discovers 10 messages her late husband left her after his death to assist her in moving on.

Butler stated during his conversation with Barrymore, 47, that he entered the production of P.S. I Love You to prioritize Swank's needs.

Swank, fortunately, escaped the situation unhurt. The 48-year-old actress is expecting twins at this time with her husband Philip Schneider.

Butler has produced many works over the years, including heartfelt dramas like Dear Frankie, rom-com like P.S. I Love You, and even animation like the horror film Tales of the Black Freighter from the Watchmen series.

Butler's specialty, whether in fantasy blockbusters or grim cop thrillers, is action. As Plane demonstrates his latest project, the star has cornered the market for leading R-rated action movies with reasonable budgets and distinctive hooks.