Reader’s Digest International — August 2017

BY DIETER OSSWALD

Playing the Hollywood heart-throb

has never been enough for Richard Gere

WHETHER AS Aladies’ man inAmeri-

can Gigoloor a lovelorn millionaire

inPretty Woman, Richard Gere, 67,

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 inMr. Jones. In his

new drama thriller,The Dinner,Gere

impersonates a political careerist with

major family problems. It was first

showninFebruaryatthisyear’sBerlin

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:InThe Dinneryou

play an influential politician; in

real life you’ve long been a political

activist. Which role is more satisfying

for you?

Richard Gere:They’re both equally

satisfying, though for different rea-

sons. I have two appointment diaries,

one for my acting jobs, the other for

my political activities. But that didn’t

stop me forgetting the appointment

I had this morning. Someone had

to knock on the door to remind me

that I was supposed to be attending a

meeting on Tibet.

ENTERTAINMENT

Family

Comes

First

August• 2017 | 79

PHOTO: ROSS GILMORE/GETTY IMAGES