Russell Crowe was more “certain” of having children than his wife

The actor – who has two sons, Charles, seven, and five-year-old Tennyson with spouse Danielle Spencer – wanted to start a family straight away whereas the singer-and-actress was happy to delay having kids but fell pregnant when they were on their honeymoon in April 2003.

She said: “Once Russell has an idea in his head, that’s it. He was certain he wanted children, but I could have kept procrastinating about it. Then I fell pregnant on our honeymoon and the decision was made for me.”

Danielle also revealed she was friends with Russell for two years before they got involved romantically as she was already dating someone else.

She told Australia’s Daily Telegraph newspaper: “When I met Russell, I was in another relationship. We were friends for two years before we got together. Then he went overseas. We had a strong connection, but it was on and off for a while.

“I wasn’t in a rush to settle down. We stayed friends and it was amazing to watch him progress in his career. Breaking America is hard work and he deserved his success when it came. I was very happy for him.

“Just after my first album, ‘White Monkey’, came out, he invited me to go on tour in the US with his band. We were both single and spending a lot of time together. Timing wise, things just aligned.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Russell Crowe is on a mission to lose weight

The Oscar-winning actor – whose weight has fluctuated over the years – has started a tough exercise regime in a bid to get him into shape.

Writing on his twitter page, he said: “First ride in quite some time. Sore legs, sore ass, be worse tomorrow and the next day. (sic)”

The father-of-two then told one fan: “If i stop exercising my body tries 2 return 2 its heaviest weight. (sic)”

The ‘Gladiator’ star is on a 105-day training period, which he admits is taking its toll.

He said his diet plan includes, includes “taking in roughly 2400 cal/ 2600 cal incl all beverages (sic)”, as well as tough workouts, one which left him declaring: “i’m toast (sic)”

In 2009, it was revealed Russell, 47, was using a state-of-the-art gym on the set of ‘Robin Hood’ to avoid gaining weight.

A source said: “Russell is a professional. He knew he was cast to play Robin Hood, not Friar Tuck. He knows he has to stay fit.”

<!– @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

Source: BANG Showbiz

Gene Simmons feels like an “Olympian god”

The Kiss bass player and singer said the feeling he gets onstage is better than that felt by the most powerful people in the world, including religious figures and politicians.

He said: “The most important thing is getting up on stage. It’s electric church, there’s no experience like it. Popes, presidents, prime ministers, even kings – none of them get to feel like I do. Only maybe Olympian gods would.”

The ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll All Nite’ singer also told how the band’s fanbase is very broad and he is constantly surprises by the people who reveal themselves as fans.

He added: “The strangest people grew up on Kiss – Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe.

“We snuck into the Grammys one time, and Luther Vandross was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s Kiss!’ ”

The 60-year-old rocker also explained his life philosophy, which was influenced by his mother, who experienced life as a Jew under the Nazi regime.

He said: “My mother, at 14, was in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. And saw her whole family incinerated in the ovens. Her philosophy has always been: every day above ground is a good day. Life is a gift, not a birthright. Don’t waste it.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Russell Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is a New Zealand-born, naturalised Australian actor and musician. His acting career began in the early 1990s with roles in Australian TV series such as Police Rescue and films such as Romper Stomper.

In the late 1990s, Russell began appearing in US films such as the 1997 movie L.A. Confidential. Crowe has been nominated for three Oscars, and in 2001, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his starring role in the film Gladiator. Russell also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for A Beautiful Mind. He is also co-owner of National Rugby League team the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Source: Wikipedia

Russell Crowe couldn’t fight with his ‘Robin Hood’ director because he’s so “non-confrontational”.

The actor – who stars as the titular outlaw in the forthcoming big screen epic – can be argumentative on set at times, but had a great relationship with director Ridley Scott because he was such a calming influence.

He said: “It’s a common misconception, but we never argue. He’s non-confrontational! He wants the best f***ing idea and he wants it now. He said to me when we first met, ‘If you tell me a good idea in post-production that you sat on, I will hate you forever. I want all your ideas while I can do something about it.’ And he probably regretted doing that so often.

“At the end of the day, all Ridley wants to do is paint the canvas. If you give him all the bits and pieces and don’t get between the paint and the canvas, you’re going to be fine.”

Although the 45-year-old star – who famously fell out with a television producer at the 2002 BAFTAs and was involved in an altercation with a New York concierge in 2005 – has a reputation as a “Hollywood hardman” he is adamant it is an undeserved title.

He added to Britain’s GQ magazine: “People build this thing that isn’t real. I am always described as a Hollywood mad man, it’s just ridiculous. I know some hard men, and I am not a hard man. I’m a guy who likes poetry, who writes songs. I put make-up on for a living. Give me a break. If I was a hard man, I wouldn’t be any good at my job. In reality, actors are not intimidating. Actors are naturally garrulous. All the great actors I know play instruments.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Russell Crowe has been given a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

The Oscar-winning actor – who has previously refused offers to have the prestigious honour – was accompanied by wife Danielle Spencer and their two sons, Charles, six, and three-year-old Tennyson, as he was presented with a plaque to commemorate the unveiling of his star on Hollywood Boulevard.

Accepting his star, Russell said: “Next to Sir Anthony Hopkins, that’s not a bad spot. It’s a nice piece of real estate. There’s no place I would rather be, apart from with my family, than on a movie set on a feature film – particularly those first few days when the excitement and the freshness is still there.

“Anyway, as I said, thanks for the privilege and I’ll always be grateful for it. Cheers.”

As well as his family, the 46-year-old ‘Gladiator’ star was also joined by former colleagues and friends, including director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, actor Sam Worthington and talk show host Jay Leno.

Leno described him as “an all-round good guy who just happens to be one of the greatest actors in the world”.

The New Zealand-born heartthrob used to be a notorious hellraiser but has calmed down since marrying Danielle and becoming a father.

Danielle has said: “I don’t think I’ve tamed him, I just think there’s a natural progression when you become a parent and are relaxed and happier.

“Perhaps, before that, he was going through quite a ride in terms of his celebrity, which can be confronting. So I think you possibly get defensive. He’s moved into a calmer environment that works better for him, but he’s just as passionate about his work – and just as complicated an individual.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe was the highest paid actor in Hollywood in 2009.

The 20-year-old actor – who plays the title character in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise – was paid a staggering £25.6 million last year according to a list of the top 40 earners by Vanity Fair magazine, making him the most bankable actor in Hollywood – though not worth as much as leading directors..

‘Transformers’ movie maker Michael Bay at number one, with £79 million, and Steven Spielberg, 63, with £53 million, second. Roland Emmerich, James Cameron and Todd Phillips took the remaining places ahead of Daniel, who was sixth in the list.

Daniel – who has already used some of his earnings to build up a property portfolio in Britain and the US – also beat his co-star, Emma Watson, 19, who made £20 million.

The British actress – who plays Harry’s friend Hermione Granger in the movies – was one of only two women to make the list, with ‘Charlie’s Angels’ beauty Cameron Diaz ranked twentieth.

The Hogwarts actors and actresses are also set to have another couple of years worth of money heading their way with the next two films which will be released in November and July 2011.

The list of Hollywood earners was made based on factors such as up-front fees, box office gross percentages and other estimated revenue streams.

Other top stars to make the list included Ben Stiller in seventh place, Tom Hanks in eighth, Adam Sandler in the tenth spot and Denzel Washington a place behind him.

Daniel and Emma’s co-star Rupert Grint placed fifteenth in the list, while debt-ridden actor Nicolas Cage was ranked in seventeenth position.

Vanity Fair magazine’s Top Twenty Hollywood earners of 2009

1. Michael Bay – £125 million

2. Steven Spielberg – £85 million

3. Roland Emmerich – £70 million

4. James Cameron – £50 million

5. Todd Phillips – £44 million

6. Daniel Radcliffe – £41 million

7. Ben Stiller – £40 million

8. Tom Hanks – £36 million

9. J.J Abrams – £36 million

10. Jerry Bruckheimer – £35.5 million

11. Tyler Perry – £32.5 million

12. Adam Sandler – £31.5 million

13. Denzel Washington – £31 million

14. Emma Watson – £30 million

15. Rupert Grint – £30 million

16. Owen Wilson – £29 million

17. Nicholas Cage – £28 million

18. Russell Crowe – £28 million

19. Cameron Diaz – £27 million

20. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard – £25.5 million