Braveheart actor Mel Gibson has spoken to STV News on the eve of the release of the Oscar-winning epic on Blu-ray.
The film, which made its premiere in Stirling in September 1995, became an instant box office hit in Scotland and across the globe.
The work depicts the life of Scottish legend William Wallace and his struggle against the English King, Edward I. Directed by Gibson, who also starred as Wallace, the film stirred up a feeling of Scottish nationalism – a point that did not go unnoticed by the actor.
Speaking in New York, he said: "I can’t believe this, that there was so much feeling and fervour about the subject, about what it meant and how they could feel it. The energy was palpable and like a rocket. It was almost too much.
"It hit a chord. Every culture, I think no matter where you come from, you are looking for the identity and to have it displayed to the world. If it is something that you approve of and something that you feel – it does make a deep mark.
"I became really aware of what a piece of art could do to change things. It started the ball rolling on some stuff."
While the celebrated work - which picked up five Oscars including Best Director and Best Picture - remains one of the favourite films in Scotland today, its historical inaccuracies have led some to criticise Australian actor.
In response, he said: "Some people wanted me to feel guilty about that. You know, ‘you have messed up history’.
"There is very little history about the man. There is some, but you have to make up the bits in between because there wasn’t somebody following him around writing. He did exist and he did have an impact."
Braveheart: Collector’s Edition is released on Blu-ray for the first time on November 2.
