Source: Woman's Day (Australia)
March 27, 2000
Why Russell lost 23 kilos
Hollywood correspondent Ivor Davies finds out why the Aussie star throws his weight into all his roles.
Russell Crowe, hot contender for an Oscar, can't wait to go to work for his pal Jodie Foster. "She's a great director and also a magnificent woman," says the 35-year-old Aussie actor. After the Sydney Olympics, Russell will team up with Claire Danes to star in Jodie's bizarre new film, Flora Plum.
"I play a circus freak, half man, half beast. I'll look pretty ghastly," Russell says. "All you'll see is the slits of my eyes. I'll look even worse than when I come home from a late night on the town."
Oscar-winner Jodie turned down the chance to reprise her role as FBI agent Clarice Starling in the big-budget sequel to The Silence Of The Lambs so she could direct this film and work with the Australian-based star, who calls his northern NSW farm home.
The pair have become good friends - he took her to the Golden Globe Awards in January and they recently went shopping for clothes and toys for Jodie's 20-month-old son Charles.
But before he can begin working for her, Russell has to wind up shooting Proof Of Life, in which he plays a hostage negotiator, opposite Meg Ryan.
"I've spent the last nine days hanging out of a helicopter over Poland," Russell says. "And after the Oscars, we're off to Equador to shoot the rest of the film."
Source: CNN Larry King Live
Aired March 27, 2002
Interview with Jodie Foster
KING: And you were going to direct Russell Crowe, right?
FOSTER: Yes, I was.
KING: What happened?
FOSTER: The movie was "Flora Plum" about circus performers in the '30s.
KING: Are they ever going to do it?
FOSTER: We'll definitely do it. It's a great script.
KING: With him?
FOSTER: I don't think so, no.
KING: Because?
FOSTER: Many reasons but because he had intensely painful surgery where he has many pins in his shoulder. He'll never be able to really -- at least in the next year be able to raise his hand above his head let alone hang. He's an acrobat.
KING: He really likes you.
FOSTER: Yes. I really like him, too.
KING: And I had a wonderful time with him on this program. People were saying Russell Crowe. What do you make of that?
FOSTER: He's a -- you know, I think Russell, what do I know about Russell Crowe. He's terrifically talented, incredibly charming guy. But I think when he gets nervous he gets very serious. He gets very serious. But the truth is that he's a very light, funny guy. I always say he's like a little bit of leprechaun side to him.
KING: What's his talent? When an actor looks at another actor -- "A Beautiful Mind" did you like that movie?
FOSTER: Loved it.
KING: When you look at it, do you say as an actor now, that's Russell Crowe or that's Dr. Nash?
FOSTER: That's what's so wonderful is that he can really have that transformation where it's such a different character than he played in the "Insider" for example, or in "Gladiator." These are three entirely different people. That he is so committed to completely changing himself. However, there's one consistent thing that he can't get rid of it, it is just who he is. He has that absolutely glacier intensity. He is truly intense on screen.