Russell Ira Crowe (born April 7, 1964)ย is a New Zealand actor and film director.ย His work on screenย has earned himย various accolades, including anย Academy Award, twoย Golden Globe Awards, and aย British Academy Film Award.
Crowe was born in New Zealand, spending ten years of his childhood in Australia and residing there permanently by age 21.ย He began acting in Australia and had his break-out role inย Romper Stomperย (1992). He gained international recognition in the late 1990s for his starring roles inย L.A. Confidentialย (1997) andย The Insiderย (1999). Crowe gained wider stardom for playing the title role ofย Gladiatorย (2000), which earned him theย Academy Award for Best Actor. Further acclaim came for portraying real-life mathematicianย John Forbes Nash Jr.ย inย A Beautiful Mindย (2001). Crowe then starred in several films in the 2000s, includingย Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003),ย Cinderella Manย (2005),ย 3:10 to Yuma (2007),ย American Gangsterย (2007),ย State of Play (2009), andย Robin Hoodย (2010).
Crowe has since appeared in the filmsย Les Misรฉrablesย (2012),ย Man of Steelย (2013),ย Noah (2014), andย Thor: Love and Thunderย (2022). In 2014, he made his directorial debut with the dramaย The Water Diviner, in which he also starred. Aside from acting, Crowe has co-own theย National Rugby Leagueย (NRL) teamย South Sydney Rabbitohsย since 2006.
