Russell Crowe Biography

- Russell's cousins are Martin Crowe and Jeff Crowe, famous cricket players in New Zealand. Apart from the Chappell brothers in Australia they have played more tests together than any other brothers.

- Russell shares the same birthday as Jackie Chan and Victoria Beckham.

- Russell ad-libbed the description of Maxiumus’ home in the scene from Gladiator (specifically how the kitchen is arranged and smells in the morning and at night) and it's actually a description of his own home in Australia.

- Russell was considered for the part of Will in 'About A Boy'.

- Two of Russell's movies were based on Vanity Fair articles - 'The Insider' was based on an article called "The Man Who Knew Too Much" which featured in the May 1996 edition and 'Proof of Life' was based on an article titled "Adventures in the Ransom Trade" which appeared May 1998.

- Russell hit the headlines in 2005 after being arrested and charged in New York for throwing a telephone at a hotel worker. He later released a statement saying he was jet-lagged and had been trying to call his wife Danielle Spencer in Australia but couldn’t get a line in his room. Russell’s famous fiery temperament has got him into trouble on many an occasion, including a public scuffle with fellow New Zealander Eric Watson in London in 2002 and a fight in Sydney two years earlier.

- Lost his front tooth playing rugby when he was ten. Only had it repaired years later, at the insistence of the director for 'The Crossing', who paid for it out of his own pocket.

- First lead role when he was 25.

- After filming Gladiator, he and some friends took a 4,000 mile motorcycle trip around Australia.

- Owns a 560-acre farm in 7.5 hours North-West from Sydney, Australia

- Dropped out of high school.

- Performed on stage in "Grease" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."