'Family Is Important For Me'

Playing the Hollywood heart-throb has never been enough for Richard Gere

- Dieter Osswald

WHETHER AS A ladies’ man in American Gigolo or a lovelorn millionaire in Pretty Woman, Richard Gere (68) has often been cast as a Casanova. But he has played plenty of serious parts as well, such as his portrait of a manic-depressive in Mr. Jones. In his latest movie, The Dinner, Gere impersonates a political careerist with family problems. It was first shown in February at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. And while he was there, the film star and committed Buddhist also met Chancellor Angela Merkel for an exchange of views.

Reader’s Digest: In the Dinner you play an influential politician, in real life you’ve been a political activist. Which role is more satisfying for you?