Gerard Butler was once mistaken for a terrorist.

The 'Coriolanus' star was going through immigration in a London airport when he was stopped by suspicious security officials in 2001 and the actor - who had just completed a screen test for 'Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life' - had a tough time explaining why he had material taped on to his shoes.

He told Shortlist magazine: "Just after the shoe bomber plot in 2001, I flew to London from Montreal to do a screen test for 'Lara Croft'. They'd built this caged floor for the set but they couldn't hear my dialogue properly so they put felt on my boots. Straight after The Audition I went back to the airport and as I walked through they went, 'OK Sir, show us your feet'. And then I remembered I had this roughly cut, half inch of felt stuck to the bottom of my soles."

Although Gerard, 42, tried to explain the situation, security officials were doubtful when he tried to tell them he had just been for an audition with Angelina Jolie.

He added: "The guy literally went,'What the f**k is that? Security!' The next thing I know there are 10 people around me and I'm telling what sounds like the most far-fetched story every about my audition with Angelina Jolie."