Gerard Butler Says Jessica Biel Is ‘The One That Got Away’

Shortly after Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel tied the knot, it was revealed that Gerard Butler believed the former 7th Heaven star was “the one that got away.”

The 42-year-old Scottish actor was apparently scared off by the fact that Biel wanted something more serious when they began dating while filming the romantic comedy Playing for Keeps.

A source close to Butler told RadarOnline, “Gerard doesn’t have many regrets but not treating Jessica with the respect she deserved while they dated is one of them. He genuinely believes she was the one that got away.”

The source said Biel was ready to settle down but Butler wasn’t. Apparently Butler is happy for the new Mrs. Timberlake, “but he still thinks he missed out. He just wasn’t man enough to admit the feelings he had for her at the time.”

Biel and Timberlake began dating in January 2007 and separated in March 2011. Biel said, “I needed to be alone for a while. It gives you a lot of strength, a lot of confidence, too, because it means you know that … any decision you make is an educated one, not just an emotional one. You make your own choice about whether to step back into a relationship or whether to go in a different direction.”

Biel had a fling with Butler while filming Playing for Keeps that summer, but reunited with Timberlake after the two broke up. Timberlake proposed shortly after, and the two married in southern Italy on October 19.

The newlyweds said in a joint statement, “It’s great to be married, the ceremony was beautiful and it was so special to be surrounded by our family and friends.”