Mel Gibson says epic American Western was inspiration behind Braveheart

Mel Gibson's depiction of William Wallace in Braveheart was unveiled exactly 25 years ago. | Other 3rd Party

But now Mel Gibson, the Australian actor and director who brought the story of iconic Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace to the big screen, has revealed that the inspiration for Braveheart was an epic American western – and refused to apologise for infamous historical inaccuracies in his own movie.

Braveheart was based on a story by an American screenwriter, Randall Wallace, who developed an interest in the story of the 13th century warrior’s life after a visit to Scotland to research his roots in the country.

In an interview to mark 25 years since Braveheart's world premiere, Gibson has revealed how he asked Kevin Costner for advice on stepping behind the camera after watching his Oscar-winning triumph, the American actor's debut as a director, which he also starred in, as a Civil War soldier who forges a relationship with a band of Lakota Indians.

Mel Gibson has revealed was inspired to make Braveheart after seeing Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves. | Other 3rd Party

Gibson recalled: "I spoke to him and I was like, ‘That was amazing. I’m so gobsmacked that you did that with your first film.

"And he said, ‘There’s only one way to go, man. Big.’”

“And I said, ‘OK, I’m going big.

”This was 3,500 people on (the Braveheart) set, nine cameras and me on a four-wheel motorcycle in costume with blue face, whipping around checking camera positions because I only had like two monitors. It was fun."

Braveheart was a worldwide box office sensation and scooped five Oscars in 1996.

But to the dismay of many in the Scottish industry, in Ireland due to the tax breaks on offer at the time and 1800 members of the Irish Defence Forces were hired as extras.

Gibson said: "They were playing both sides. One day they’d be dirty, filthy with bad wigs and kilts, and the next they’d get all tooled up with the armour and stuff. Then we’d split them in half (to battle). It was crazy.

"Yes, there was a bridge involved in the Battle of Stirling Bridge. We didn’t have a bridge because that would’ve made it too puny. I wanted to do it big, so we nixed the bridge."

Braveheart famously upset historians with its depiction of Wallace and his troops wearing kilts and with their faces painted, inaccurate references to bagpipes and a made-up love affair, as well as the absence of a bridge in any of the scenes during the pivotal Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Gibson added: "Yes, there was a bridge involved in the Battle of Stirling Bridge. We didn’t have a bridge because that would’ve made it too puny. I wanted to do it big, so we nixed the bridge,

"I’ll admit where I may have distorted history a little bit. That’s OK. I’m in the business of cinema. I’m not a ******* historian.

"History is very interesting to me, and I do appreciate the veracity of true history. But I don’t know that history is always true. It’s written by the winners all the time."

Gibson admitted he had not see the two recent movies depicting Robert the Bruce - played by Chris Pine and Angus Macfadyen, the latter of whom reprised his role from Braveheart.