Russell Ira Crowe is an actor and film director. His work on screen has earned him various accolades, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. Known for his intense performances, his films have grossed over $5.3 billion worldwide.
Crowe was born in New Zealand, moving to Australia at the age of four and residing there permanently by the age of 21. He began acting in Australia and had his break-out role in Romper Stomper (1992) for which he won the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He gained international recognition in the late 1990s for his starring roles in L.A. Confidential (1997) and The Insider (1999). Crowe gained wider stardom for playing the title role of Gladiator (2000), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, having been previously nominated for The Insider. Further acclaim came for portraying real-life mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr.