Family Is Important For Me

Playing the Hollywood heartthrob 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 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 new movie, The Dinner, the 67-year-old 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 Chancelor Angela Merkel for an exchange of views.

Reader’s Digest: In “The Dinner” you play an influential politician.In real life you’ve long been a political activist. Which role is more satisfying for you?