Russell Crowe

Born in New Zealand, Russell Crowe has lived in Australia since the age of four. He rose to international fame for his portrayal of Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the Ridley Scott film Gladiator. He won four prestigious awards for this role including one Academy Award for Best Actor and an Empire Award for Best Actor.

He began a career in music in the 1980's performing under the name Russ Le Roq. His first single was titled 'I Want to Be Like Marlon Brando'. Crowe and his friend Billy Dean Cochran also formed a band in the 1980's which went on to become the Australian rock group 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. Crowe was the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band. In 2005 Russell began a new musical venture with the band The Ordinary Fear of God. He continues to record material and does various live performances with the band.

After he began his acting career in Australia with jobs in the hit soap Neighbours and stints in musicals like The Rocky Horror Show, he began working in the US. He was nominated for 3 Best Actor Awards for The Insider, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind. All three films were nominated for best picture but Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind won.

Crowe is an avid sports fan. He has been a supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team since childhood. In football he follows Bristol City and Leeds United. He also enjoys watching and playing cricket.

Russell appears as Inspector Javert in the musical film of Les Misérables.