Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Croweis an actor, film producer and musician. Although a New Zealand citizen, he has lived most of his life in Australia and identifies himself as an Australian. He came to international attention for his role as the Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which Crowe won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, an Empire Award for Best Actor...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth7 April 1964
CityWellingotn, New Zealand
CountryAustralia
If you put 20 cents in me and ask me to talk about South Sydney, I'll play all night.
I'd done stage musicals for quite a few years, starting with 'Grease' in Auckland.
I got a guitar when I was six and, instead of learning other people's songs, started to try to write my own, even at that young age.
I believe in singing for my supper. I'll never accept a grant because what I do should be able to be founded purely on free enterprise.
From a young kid, I was quite interested in religion.
The Americans love Aussies, but they're actually quite afraid of us at the same time because they think we're insane. Then they see our sports - league, union, and AFL - and that makes them even more worried.
I look for the role that excites me and work with whoever that director happens to be, wherever he wants to shoot the film.
You don't want to be the guy whose back's to the camera in the emotional part of the movie. So, you have to be aware of the camera movement and what the camera's doing.
You don't have to like an actor to do a scene with him. You don't have to like a director. But it's just better if you do. And I think, you know, you've got to begin that with respect.
When I read 'The Water Diviner,' I was having the same kind of visceral reaction that I would normally have acting in something. I believed that I was the only person that could tell this story the way it needed to be told. That's the real arrogance of a director!
'Swallow My Gift' is all about music being its own reward. I don't do it to become more famous; I don't do it to make money. I don't do it from an ego-driven point of view.
No matter how long you'd been in the country, if you weren't in Australia for the majority of 2000 to 2002 - when I was particularly busy filming overseas - you can't become a citizen.
My kids are being raised in a much more affluent environment than was mine. My wife and I talk about that all the time because neither of us had this kind of experience.
It just seems like a religion that is perfect for people who feel like they need a grounding, who feels that the world has run off on them. I've discussed this with Scientologists, and they don't disagree. So, for a certain type of person, that's great.