February 23

Source: BBC online press office

February 23, 2002

Outspoken Russell Crowe opens his "beautiful mind" to Parkinson

In his first major in-depth television interview in the UK, the Oscar winning actor and rugged Gladiator heartthrob Russell Crowe talks exclusively to Michael Parkinson about acting, his music and his infamous "temperamental" media-image.

Joining Russell live in the studio are Kylie Minogue and one of the greatest actresses of her generation, Cate Blanchett.

Smartly dressed in a dark suit, a light blue shirt and suede loafers, Russell talks openly to Michael about how Hollywood and the media perceive him. When Michael suggests that Russell is not "smooth" because he doesn't play the Hollywood game, the actor says: "I haven't got time for all that sort of stuff. Most of the people that work in your job are a pack of bloody idiots!"

Russell continues: "Conversation is one thing but other people will come at you with an agenda that you know nothing about but you're supposed to glad-hand and soft-sell, but I'm not like that. If I sense you're trying to pull the wool over my eyes, or take the mickey, then I shall come back at you with the same level of energy. And then in the column [the journalist] will say [in funny voice] 'Ooh he's a very nasty boy' but they'll forget to point out 'I was being an asshole to begin with and then I got caught!'"

Michael asks Russell exactly what it is that gives him "the red mist?" The actor replies: "Ah I don't know really. The thing is I don't keep any of it in the frontal lobe. I just respond in kind at the time, which is far more dangerous than me thinking about it."

Michael talks to Russell about living away from the Hollywood movie machine and, in particular, asks why he's decided to settle on a farm in Australia? Russell, proud of his home, answers: "I've got 750 acres. We've got, including all the rooting babies, we've got 412 cattle now and we're running out of room so we'll have to work something out about that.

"I spent my life with my dad being a pub manager going from hotel to hotel, pub to pub and living in those places. I didn't actually live in an individual free-standing dwelling house until I was 14. The gypsy life is very natural to me. Growing up with a number on your door, you get pretty used to it. The farm is about constructing that solid base - that home that I never had as a kid. But my parents live there, my brother lives there. I could have 60 people stay on that place, and you'd never bump into anybody. There are little buildings out here and there, and some have got more facilities than others - but it's Australia mate, you just have to get used to it."

Jokingly, Michael comments that it sounds idyllic, and yet the animals that share the land will "bite you and kill you." Russell agrees, saying: "We've got red-belly black snakes, king brown snakes, red-back spiders, funnel-webs" and jokes, "then there's Australian women. They bite too! [Laughs] You've got two of them on the show so I'd better get out of here!"

Russell continues: "People always ask me why I don't live in LA, or Hollywood. But to me that would be like unrolling your swag in the office, it's just not healthy. I think that the objectivity I bring not only to the roles but also to the business of Hollywood, I think that's why the directors I work with want to hire me."

Michael asks if the actor is ever worried about being considered "an outsider in Hollywood?" Russell jokes: "Well, as you know, I think things are going really badly for me [laughs] ... the great filmmakers don't live in Hollywood either... Francis Ford Coppolla lives in San Francisco, Ron Howard lives in New York, Baz Luhrmann lives in Australia. You don't have to be living there at the centre of the machinery in order to succeed."

Russell has been nominated for both a BAFTA at the Orange British Academy Film Awards (showing this Sunday on BBC ONE) and an Oscar for his portrayal of John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. Michael asks him how important he considers these?

Russell says: "If the people that do the same job as you do are patting you on the back and saying well done mate, that's a very important thing. Nobody else can really understand it. It's not a popularity contest - I don't win popularity contests mate! I don't know why - personable bloke, media-friendly, like a good chat, know how to celebrate! [Laughs]. To me I'm not cynical about the Academy at all, winning one or getting a nomination or anything. I've had three nominations in a row."

This is a far cry from where Russell began his acting career. Michael asks him about his appearance in musicals, such as The Rocky Horror Show in the late 1980s. Russell explains: "I played Frankenfurter in a little theatre in the west of Sydney, so it wasn't Broadway by any means! The audiences were pretty rowdy." He jokes: "One night, everytime I went down the front, this Smart Alec, this girl, was squirting me with a water pistol, right up my a*se. Everytime I'd turn up stage she'd [makes squirting sound]. At one point, because you can break that wall as Frank, I turned around, and I said something like 'if you squirt me one more time, I'm going to come off this stage, and stick my stiletto up the crack of your arse!'"

Michael then asks Russell about his band which has always been an important part of the actor's life. Russell explains: "The music is very important to me. It's a great creative outlet for me - I think anybody from my generation understands the power of a three minute pop song. This particular band is called 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. We're called that because I have no desire for my music to ever been taken seriously on a commercial level. I want to make the marketing of my music as difficult as possible."

Source: Perth Now

February 23, 2009

Luc Longley, Russell Crowe combine for fire victims

WA Olympian Luc Longley has teamed up with actor Russell Crowe to help victims of the Victorian fire disaster.

Longley, the former Chicago Bulls player, has had his own brush with fire tragedy when he rescued his own family from his burning Fremantle home, which was destroyed by fire.

Proceeds from the City of Fremantle bush fire fundraiser on March 1 (in Esplanade Park from 10am to 1pm) will go to a project spearheaded by Fremantle local Longley, Hollywood star Russell Crowe and the City of Coffs Harbour (NSW) to build the devastated town of Marysville a new community hall.

The decision to boost the community hall fundraising effort comes after a meeting with Fremantle Mayor Peter Tagliaferri and Longley, whose converted warehouse on Montreal St was destroyed by fire in 2007.

Longley said the sheer speed with which the fire took hold, the devastation and how vulnerable it made him feel for his family had a huge impact on him.

The memories of that traumatic night, when he rescued his family from the burning home, flooded back during the Victorian bush fires. He was a guest speaker at a Rabbitohs training camp in Coffs Harbour at the time with team co-owner and Hollywood stalwart Russell Crowe.

He said at a dinner meeting with Crowe and Coffs Harbour City GM Stephen Sawtell, they talked about helping the Victoria aid appeal.

"I told them about this idea of building a community hall to provide people with a starting point for reviving the community," Luc said.

"It will be a place to hold meetings, fundraisers, house a creche, have dances and music - there's just so much you can do in and with a community hall.

"We've raised a lot of money so far with Russell's donation, mine and my families, including my brother-in-law Ben Elton, my ex-wife, my wife and I and other people in the Fremantle community.

"Coffs Harbour council is co-ordinating the effort and has already raised $15,000 in cash or donations like cement, a netball court, wiring and power.

"When I heard Fremantle was organising a fundraiser it was a perfect opportunity to bring the two aid efforts together to build something really worthwhile.

"Russell and I, the City of Coffs Harbour and now City of Fremantle are determined to make this community hall project happen, no matter what."