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
I don't really take vacations because when I'm working, it's usually in a far-flung, exotic place somewhere. But I have a farm in Australia I like to go back to when I'm at home and not working.
For filmmakers who've made multiple movies, they have experience, but they only have experience of themselves as a filmmaker. Whereas I'm bouncing around from different skill sets: the organizational ability of Ridley Scott to the precision of a Ron Howard to the artistic sensibilities of a Peter Weir... to the scope of a Tom Hooper.
Directing is like looking at the stars on a cloudless night. You get away from all light sources, and you look up, and you see 50 points of light. And a minute later 100 and another minute later 1,000 and then 10,000. And then this swirling gigantic carpet above you, and somehow it all seems to connect.
At 49, I find it a little bit difficult to run these days. I've got grade four tears in both Achilles, shin splints, I got no cartilage the toes in my right foot, I've got bone marrow edemas under both knees, I've got one degenerating hip - that's the problem you get.
People say, 'Surely there's the right reasons for going to war?' And my perspective is, 'Surely there's a better way of asking that question?'
Music's always been a huge part of my life, and my first record came out in 1981.
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.