Jim Ferguson Interviews
Russell Crowe
In His Latest Movie "Gladiator"

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Jim Ferguson:  Good to see you Russ. Congratulations. "Gladiator." Did you have any idea, going into this thing that it was going to require so much physical work to play a gladiator?

Russel Crowe: Well when I did "Mystery, Alaska," we chatted about when it came out, I didn't think I could find a role that would damage me physically any more than that, but I managed, I managed.  I found one!  The thing is when we were doing the schedule right at the beginning, you know, they were saying "it's all going to be okay mate, because after this fight sequence we're going to have seven days where you're going to have a couple of days off, and then you just do walking and talking scenes, and then do a little bit of a rehearsal and we'll start the next one." That didn't happen.  It was just unrelenting.  You know, sometimes it was down to the point of fighting tigers during the day, and rehearsing the next fight sequence at night time.

Jim Ferguson:  Anyway, just the opening scene itself, that battle scene, which I think you filmed in England somewhere... unbelievable scene. When you put those costumes on and played the Roman general, does it help you become Maximus?

Russel Crowe: Well, I don't know.  There's a couple of ways of looking at that, because I thought, you know particularly the general's thing at the beginning, it's kind of a grand costume and all that sort of stuff.  But there is a certain level of difficulty retaining that masculinity and dignity in what is basically a netball tunic.  You know, so you're running around saying your orders as a general, but you know, why people are going to take you seriously when you've got a skirt on?  But I did really enjoy...

Jim Ferguson:  Well, they took fellow countrymen Mel Gibson seriously in "Braveheart," didn't they?

Russel Crowe: You know, I have a kind of a childlike sort of view on my job, and when they first came to me and said, "Here's the concept. It's 185 AD, it's going to be directed by Ridley Scott, and you start off as a Roman general," mate, that had just exploded my imagination.

Jim Ferguson:  One last question, because I'm out of time. Would you agree with me that perhaps this is such a big epic, livestock sets, extras, the Roman Empire and all it's glory, that you may never make another film this big again?

Russell Crowe: Ah it's very possible. You know it's a $103 million budget, so by no means an extraordinary budget in this day and age when "Waterworld" cost over $200 and things like this, but... You know, it's a very efficient production company, and we managed to make, I think, a movie in it's scope that actually belies it's budget.  But the great thing about this film, Jimmy, I reckon, no matter how big the sets are, it's the heart of this film which is the thing that people take with them when they leave.

Jim Ferguson:  And it's your ability as an actor that draws into that world, and you do it so beautifully.  Don't miss "Gladiator" and Russell Crowe. Thank you.

Russel Crowe: Cheers.  Thanks mate.

-- End of Interview --
 

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