Australian actor Russell Crowe is familiar to many viewers. Someone remembered his brutal image in the historical film "The Gladiator", and someone most appreciated the role of a scientist with a fragile psyche from the film "Mind Games".
One way or another, any work by Russell impresses with his ability to embody a variety of characters. How did this amazing actor achieve such success?
Childhood
Like many other actors, Russell Crowe was born into a family that was associated with the world of television and cinema. Grandfather, the Wall of Vemis, had not only successful roles, but also a cinematic award of the Second World War. Parents, Alex and Jocelyn, also constantly starred in films and television shows. Filming was related to moving, so at four, Russell ended up in Sydney. He was attracted to television, he was not at all afraid of cameras, so it is not surprising that at the age of five the boy took part in the filming of the television series Spyforce, which was produced by his mother's godfather. But this role had not yet begun a busy career, and at the age of 14, Russell moved with his family to New Zealand, where his parents became co-owners of the Flying Pitcher restaurant. For a while, I had to forget about the cinema.
Passion for music
When the actor was still a teenager, nothing foreshadowed that films featuring Russell Crowe would one day attract many viewers to cinemas. The teenager was much more interested in a musical career.
Moving to Auckland gave him friendship with Dean Khokhran, in the company of which Russell began playing in the Roman Fun group. In addition, he recorded singles under the pseudonym Russ le Roque. But the songs did not become popular, which Crowe reacted with healthy irony. At age 21, he returned to Australia to study drama at the National Institute. He soon dropped out, although he no longer planned to become a rock star. The actor had to earn a living
as a waiter and a dishwasher.
First success
In 1986, Russell Crowe, whose filmography included only a children's role in the series, was invited to The Rocky Horror Show. He starred in 415 issues of this program, while attending a variety of film screenings. Some visits were successful - so, in 1987 he got the role of Kenny Larkin and played in the series "Neighbors". After him, Russell Crowe was invited to the film "Prisoners of the Sun." At age 25, he was noticed by George Ogilvy and called into the first truly serious movie called Crossroads. After him, films with Russell Crowe began to appear much more often. Soon the film "Proof" came out, which presented the actor with an award from the Australian Film Institute for the best supporting role.
And in 1992, a film called "Shaven-headed" was released, which became one of the box-office films that year and brought the actor a national film award. Russell Crowe has become successful and popular.
New roles
The emotional image from the "Skinheads" has attracted the attention of the whole world. Russell Crowe spotted Sharon Stone and invited him to take part in her directorial debut called "Fast and the Dead." The actor finished work on the Australian project The Sum of Us, after which he starred in the proposed Hollywood film. The audience did not appreciate the film too much, but other directors noticed the Australian and began to actively offer him cooperation. Russell Crowe, whose filmography up to this point was full of Australian films, became a real Hollywood actor. He worked on the same site with Denzel Washington in the tape "Virtuosity", as the soundtracks for which Crowe's songs were used. He starred in the film "Magic" with Bridget Fonda and took part in "There is no turning back." In 1997, the actor was invited to shoot "Los Angeles Secrets", where he got the main role.
The film was very warmly received by film critics, it was awarded two Oscars and seven more nominations.
Transformation for the image
In 1999, Russell Crowe starred in the film "His Man," Al Pacino himself shared the set with him. The desire to fully comply with the image prompted the actor to real exploits. He gained 23 kilograms of weight to seem more convincing in the role of an old and bald fat man. And the efforts were not in vain. The role of Jeffrey Weiggand became one of the most successful in the filmography of Russell. For her, Crowe was awarded a prize by the National Board of Film Reviewers, received a prize from the Los Angeles Society of Film Critics, and was also nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar.
Steady success
In 2000, Proof of Life was released, where Russell Crowe shared a movie set with Meg Ryan.
In the process of filming, the actors began an affair, due to which Meg divorced her husband,
Denis Quaid. The next work of the actor was the historical film "Gladiator", which turned out to be the best tape in 2001. Russell Crowe, whose photographs during the filming of "His Man" did not show the most attractive body, completely changed, greatly losing weight and gaining muscle mass. The efforts did not go in vain, and the image of a strong man turned out to be extremely convincing. Russell Crowe began to receive millions of royalties. And he was soon invited to the role of the famous mathematician Forbes in the film "Mind Games." This image brought the actor the Golden Globe Award for best dramatic role. In 2002, the second year, Russell Crowe, whose filmography was steadily replenished with new works, decided to try himself as a producer and took part in the filming of the picture "Texas". The next successful work was the role in the film "Master of the Seas: At the Edge of the Earth." She received two Academy Award: for sound editing and camera work. Rental paintings brought the creators of more than three hundred twenty million dollars.
Quiet career
In 2005, Russell’s filmography was replenished with the sensational Knockdown.
After that, many of the proposed roles were far from being so popular. Neither the film “Good Year”, shot based on the novel by
Peter Mail, nor the series “Close-up”, nor the film “Train to Yuma” caused much stir. However, the fans were not at all disappointed in the actor, and all these works brought a good income, appearing at the box office. Only film critics, as well as members of the jury of various film awards, remained indifferent. In 2007, Russell Crowe starred in the films "Gangster" and "Tenderness," and in 2008 appeared on the screen in the tape "The Set of Lies." In 2009, he played in the movie The Big Game. In 2010, Russell Crowe, whose filmography includes mostly feature films, starred in the Doyle Case series.
The work of recent years
A series of not too successful work ended thanks to director Ridley Scott. He invited Russell to participate in the Robin Hood film, and this film was really successful. The acting duet with Cate Blanchett was liked by both the audience and film critics. Russell Crowe, whose best films often turned out to be historical, successfully transmitted on the screen the image of the legendary hero of medieval ballads. After that, two more works appeared on the screens - Three Days to Escape and Iron Fist. In 2012, fans were able to see their favorite actor in an unusual role: Crowe played in the musical film Les Miserables, based on the classic work of W. Hugo. The next work was the film "City of vice", and 2013 pleased the audience with "Man of Steel", telling about the popular comic book hero Superman and his origin. In 2014, Crowe starred in the film “Love Through Time,” and also took part in a large-scale project by Darren Aronofsky. A picture called “Noah” was recently released, but has already attracted great attention. An original reading of the religious plot and masterful play by Russell Crowe in a duet with Jennifer Connelly guarantee the film maximum success in world box office.
Personal life
An extensive list of films with Russell Crowe does not mean at all that the actor is a workaholic who has forgotten about his personal life.
On the contrary, his romantic ties were quite stormy. But the meeting with Daniel Spencer, singer and actress, became fateful. The couple met back in 1990, when both participated in the filming of the film “Crossroads,” but for a long time remained just friends. And only in 2003, thirteen years later, they decided to get married. Two sons appeared in the family, Charles and Tennyson, for whom a loving father even gave up smoking. Despite the fact that the couple seemed exemplary, after ten years of marriage, the actors decided to leave. The divorce went very peacefully and quietly. About the romantic relationship of Russell Crowe at the moment nothing is known. The sons of the actor after a divorce live with their mother. Crowe still considers Australia his home, where he has a farm on which his parents and brother Terry live.