January 23

Source: Manly Daily

January 23, 2004

The man, the actor and his bodyguard

I never pictured myself turning into a star-struck idiot in the moment where I met Russell Crowe & Anthony Mundine lunching together on a sunny day in Manly.

Heh, I used to work as an entertainment reviewer; I didn't get star struck.

So we heard they might be in town and there they were at the Aqua Lounge. So what?

So I'd super coolly ask them some probing questions and Russ would ask me to star in his next movie and Anthony would tell me I was gorgeous and I'd gently smile and shake my head while keeping my professional and distanced demeanour.

"Um, excuse me, I just have to say hello, I think you're great, my husband's a fan, I'm a big fan,'' I false-started to Mundine, grasping his hand.

Ten angry big men. Please don't hit me. But Mundine smiled.

My mouth said something about him being a great ambassador for Aboriginal people and my father-in-law's belief he was so quick no one would beat him. I can't even remember what he said.

"Hi, what was your name?'' Russ asked. Oh yes, I forgot to introduce myself to Russell Crowe.

"You're like, my favourite actor and favourite sportsman at the same table,'' I blurted.

Shut up, shut up, ask something intelligent, I said to myself, but my mouth kept talking. Russ was laughing.

"So, what are you guys doing here together?'' was my last sensible question, when the actor infamous for his short temper with journos saw I needed help or I may never leave.

"Look, you want the story, this is it,'' he said.

Wearing a sleeveless top with "second to none'' on it, his arms seemed a lot smaller than in Gladiator.

"Oh yeah, the scoop, yeah,'' I said, look cool, not like a tabloid reporter, yeah. Mundine was eating pasta. I should remember that. Was that his plate? Should I ask? But Russ was talking.

"So we are having a relaxing lunch after kayaking from The Spit Bridge to here,'' he was saying, looking at my scrawled notes. Would one of them punch me if I continued like this?

My hand wouldn't write words.

"I'm so nervous my hand won't write,'' I said.

"It's OK, just calm down,'' Russell said. Russell Crowe interviews himself, I thought. Sigh. Maybe I should greet the other huge guys at the table, show I'm not just into celebs. No, not a good move.

"Heh, I'm giving you the story here,'' Russell said.

"Oh sorry, I'm not used to the celebrity order,'' I said, not even knowing what I meant by that."So how do you guys know each other?'' I asked for the third time.

"Mate, we go way back to Redfern days,'' Mundine said with a smile.

"I'm just waiting for him to give me a go in the ring,'' Russ chimed in. "But I'm a bit scared.''

"Yeah,'' I said. "I wouldn't mind a boxing lesson from him.''

Get a Hollywood scoop, I thought, turning to Russ.

"Heh, by the way I thought you were brilliant in Master and Commander, but The Insider was my favourite,'' I gushed.

No scoop, Russ completely uninterested. "I'm just waiting for him to take a broom and sweep the world,'' Russ said, turning the spotlight on to Mundine, who was beaming ear to ear. Fantastic teeth.

"So who won the kayaking?'' I asked at some stage.

"It wasn't a race,'' Mundine said, while Russ introduced me to a massive tank of a man sitting next to him who apparently was his bodyguard (ex-Sea Eagle Mark Carroll, our photographer said).

"So do you guys really know each other?'' I asked for the fourth time, as Russell flexed his arm nearest the camera for a posed photo. "Do you train together?''

I was getting the feeling there would be no invite to stay for lunch. So, cue to go, say something topical, ask if Mundine is training you for your new role as the famous boxer in Cinderella Man. Talk about Mundine's last win. Mention how I know a muso who played with him. Ask about his next movie. Something.

"Congratulations on your new baby,'' I said.

"Yeah, thanks,'' Russ said. At least I think he did, because I can't read any of my notes from this part of the conversation.

"OK have a great lunch, that was exciting, thanks,'' I said, or something just as sickening, as polite laughter followed us out the door of the Aqua Lounge and back to work.

source: The Sun-Herald

January 23, 2005

Photo: Trevor Veale
Sevens up: Russell Crowe enjoys his footy yesterday.

Crowe stays in touch

Russell Crowe's familiar tones rang around the Orara Valley Axemen's Mid North Coast rugby league ground yesterday afternoon in a less-than-familiar role.

The Oscar-winning movie star was taking his turn as ground announcer at his local club's sevens tournament - for which he provides the $15,000 prizemoney and much of the profile.

Teams representing country clubs and obscure corners of the rugby league world such as the US, Lebanon and Malta were at the ground near Coffs Harbour, as well as a star-studded team of Barbarians, consisting largely of recent Australian internationals such as Gorden Tallis.

But inevitably much of the attention was centred on Crowe.

"People notice the change in attitude when I take over the microphone and start describing the Barbarians as the most overrated team in the competition," said Crowe, who has lived nearby for 10 years.

He and friends and family drove from his farm six kilometres away, but he is an even closer neighbour of the club than that. "There would usually be some of my cattle in that field," he said. "But not today, because it's being used as a car park."

The extra parking was needed because the expanded event is a big drawcard for the area and attracted people from as far afield as Sydney and Brisbane to watch the first day of the 28-team competition.

Crowe believed it was local events such as this that kept his feet on the ground and helped feed his success as an actor.

"Real life is the way you learn about the things that you portray later," he said. "I've been trying to explain that to people who live in Hollywood all the time.

"Rugby league is real life and it's tribal, which is what I love about it."

Crowe pointed with pride to the new buildings that his involvement has enabled the club to erect.

"The other great thing about this is that it's also our junior recruitment day," he said. "This is the first time we've run it as a big, open sevens competition. We want to build on this.

"For me, it's all about supporting events in the area you live in, where everyone gets together and meets each other."

He said he planned to organise his filming schedule so this weekend of the year would always be free.