Russell’s lonely (heart?)
International stardom is his - but the cost has been
high
Russell Crowe has had to pay dearly for his burgeoning
film career - one which has cast him alongside the likes of superstars
Sharon Stone and Denzel Washington.
The actor has made the agonising decision to split with
his lover of five years, Australian actress Danielle Spencer, as he found
it impossible to conduct a relationship when they were on opposite sides
of the Pacific.
Russell has spent most of this year in Hollywood, and it
finally became apparent that something in his life had to give.
Unfortunately, it was Danielle.
He confirms he is not involved with anyone right now -
although he accompanied co-star Traci Lords at the New York premiere of
his new thriller Virtuosity - and says he and Danielle remain “very good
friends”.
“There’s a lot of love and caring still there,” he
says.
With the end of their affair goes Russell’s yearning
to be a parent.
“Unfortunately, making a family is not just up to me.
I have to find someone to agree with me, which is one of this things which
is frustrating.”
Until he does, Russell can throw himself totally into
his work, which is set to gain even more recognition thanks to Virtuosity
in which he stars with Denzel Washington. Russell plays a
computer-generated serial killer created from 183 different personalities.
No wonder Danielle had such trouble coping when Russell “got into” a
character.
“Imagine what it’s been like (for Danielle),” he
said earlier this year when he saw the writing on the wall for them. “I’ve
done 14 movies and been 14 totally different people - she didn’t know
who the hell she was sleeping with!”
“The trouble was the travel, there was not time. When
we achieved some sort of rhythm I had to get back on a plane. That was
painful”.
Even in Hollywood, the actor could not escape being
reminded of what he was missing out on.
Following a meeting with Demi Moore, all Russell could
talk about was Tallulah Belle, one of the star’s three daughters. “She
brought her beautiful baby Tullulah. I totally stopped focusing on the
meeting and concentrated on the child,” he said.
“I find motherhood an extremely attractive thin. Now
all I have to do is find someone to have babies with…”
“IT BECOMES VERY LONELY”
“While you’re making movies, you don’t invite
people over for drinks, you don’t see your girlfriend. You’re just
working: it becomes very lonely.”
Russell’s international career rocketed when Sharon
Stone hand-picked him to play her lover in her film The Quick and The Dead
after seeing Russell in his award-winning role as a chilling neo-Nazi
skinhead in Romper Stomper.
In quick succession, Russell starred in Rough Magic with
Bridget Fonda and the action film No Way Back. In Virtuosity, he hits new
heights of evil, playing the bizarre character Sid 6.7.
Russell enjoyed researching his film character and says
with a rare smile: “Everyone from Hitler to Charles Manson to my dentist
is Sid. Research means days and days of victim lists, but you find little
details that you can use. No matter how extreme the character is, it’s
still just a character,. It’s just part of my job.”
But having made 16 films in 5 ½ years, Russell feels
the need for a break, but only from acting. Like many actors, he also has
a strong interest in music and has formed the band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts,
which is about to start an Australian tour of clubs and pubs. At the end
of this month, the band releases its first single called The photograph
Kills.
Russell recognises that he may face some scepticism.
“The only problem about being an actor who plays music
is people think the music has no credibility,” he says. “All I can do
is get some (sceptics) in the room and play.”
After the tour he plans to “disappear” into the
country to relax and spend time with his parents whom he is flying over
from New Zealand.
While he is enjoying his Hollywood fame, he does not
want to be accused of forgetting his origins. Given the chance, the
no-frills actor likes to head back to the unpretentious apartment he still
keeps in Sydney’s Kings Cross.
“It’s really important to continue working within
the Australian film industry. If I can attract overseas financing, the
burden on the Government is lessened. But there hasn’t been anything
lately I’ve been able to do there.”
Keith Ryan
New Idea, 25/11/95 |