The Scottish hunk - who is best known for playing King Leonidas in `300` - beat a host of stars, including Christian Bale and double-Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis to win the title in a poll of
more than 1,000 UK film fans by the DVD rental service LoveFilm.

`Revolutionary Road` actress Kate Winslet - who managed to land forth place - was one of only two women to feature in the top ten.

`Twilight` actor Robert Pattinson came seventh despite the huge popularity of the vampire franchise.

Helen Cowley, the editor at LoveFilm, believes the poll shows 40-year-old Gerard had got "some real bite in Hollywood".

She said: "And even though Robert Pattinson is getting some deserved attention, it`s the older generation of actors that still have sway in Hollywood."

Gerard has previously spoken about how he walked away from his career as a solicitor when he was just weeks away from qualifying to pursue his acting dream.

He said: "You have to understand that I was completely out of control. If I hadn`t been so lost and insane, I`d still be a lawyer."
sections: Celebrities