He became an international star in 2007 when he transformed into muscular King Leonidas for action film 300. 

But it seems Gerard Butler has lost some of his toned physique as he was spotted with a sizeable paunch on a Mexican beach with girlfriend Morgan Brown.

The actor, 47, won legions of fans early on in his career, when he starred in films that required him to strip off for steamy scenes.

Care-free: Gerard sported a sizeable paunch as he enjoyed a seaside holiday in Mexico with his girlfriend Morgan Brown

Gerard, who ditched his gruelling workout regime to film thriller Keepers, has changed dramatically since his rise to fame in the mid-2000s.

The actor had to work out six-hours a day for seven months in the lead up to filming the action-packed flick.

He told Entertainment Tonight in 2007: ‘You just keep stepping over little barriers. You’re enjoying it because you know you’ll never be like this again, so you think how much more can you push it?’

10 years ago: Gerard looks a far cry from his role as King Leonidas in 300, when he was required to workout for seven months ahead of the gruelling role

Relaxed look: Gerard transformed his body for his latest role as a Scottish lighthouse keeper in thriller Keepers

In order to prepare for the role, Gerard enlisted the help of Venezuelan bodybuilder Franco LiCastro and mountain climber Mark Twight, who developed a special ‘300-rep Spartan workout’ for him.

Gerard reflected on the experience to Men’s Health in 2010 and said: ‘I wanted to look really strong. I’ve seen so many actors play these kinds of roles, and you see all this equipment on either a big belly or skinny little arms.

‘That was a great thing, to put on that cape and put on that helmet, and not have to think, s***, I should have trained more. Instead, I was standing there feeling like a lion.’

In 2009 film Law Abiding Citizen, his character was arrested in the nude, showing off his rippling abs as he was taken away by a SWAT team

Surf’s up! Gerard, who now sports longer hair and a beard, looked completely different from his usual action characters

The actor, who gave up a career as a lawyer to pursue his dream, also stopped drinking as he chased Hollywood fame in the late 1990s.

Since his breakout role as Leonidas, Gerard has maintained his impressive physique for action films such as Law Abiding Citizen.

In the 2009 movie, his character was arrested in the nude, showing off his rippling abs as he was taken away by a SWAT team.

Showing off: In P.S. I Love You, his first film after 300, he played Irishman Gerry, who entertained his wife by performing a striptease in a pair of boxers and braces

Gerard also stripped off in front of Jennifer Aniston in 2010 comedy The Bounty Hunter, when he emerged out of the bathroom wearing just a towel.

The actor’s talent and fine figure also landed him roles in many rom coms.

In P.S. I Love You, his first film after 300, he played Irishman Gerry, who entertained his wife by performing a striptease in a pair of boxers and braces.

He was also the romantic foil to Katherine Heigl’s character in 2009 film The Ugly Truth, where he played a chauvanist who held some controversial opinions about love.

Any excuse: Gerard also stripped off in front of Jennifer Aniston in 2010 comedy The Bounty Hunter, when he emerged out of the bathroom wearing just a towel

The star has kept up his buff image for recent action films like Olympus Has Fallen, which has spawned two sequels, and sword-and-sandal romp Gods of Egypt.

He told GQ in 2016: ‘Right now I’m training five times a week. I do a lot of cardio but I’m starting to lift heavy because in my next movie I’m supposed to be beefy, a big undercover cop in LA covered in tattoos – so it’s not big and cut, it’s just big.’

But a fine physique is not required for his latest film, where the Scottish star plays a lighthouse keeper in thriller Keepers.

Impressive: Gerard also starred alongside Angelina Jolie in the sequel to Tomb Raider, where he played the A-lister’s romantic interest

Gerard, who stars alongside Peter Mullan and Joe Alwyn, plays one of three lighthouse keepers who disappeared without a trace on the Western Isles in 1900.

The actor has finished filming in Galloway, but it appears Gerard and the rest of the crew indulged in some fine Scottish cuisine while shooting the thriller.

Stranraer coffee shop D’nisi brought 60 scones to the Hollywood set on May 3 and had been using the business for a fortnight, according to the Greenock Telegraph.

He reflected on his 300 role to Men’s Health in 2010 and said: ‘ was standing there feeling like a lion’