Mini Biography
Born in New Zealand, Russell has made his home in Australia since he was a small child. The son of movie set caterers, Russell got the acting bug early in life. Beginning as a child star on a local Australian TV show, Russell's first big break came with two films ... the first, Romper Stomper (1992), gained him a name throughout the film community in Australia and the neighboring countries. The second, The Sum of Us (1994), helped put him on the American map, so to speak. Sharon Stone heard of him from Romper Stomper (1992) and wanted him for her film, The Quick and the Dead (1995). But filming on The Sum of Us (1994) had already begun. Sharon is reported to have held up shooting until she had her gunslinger-Crowe, for her film. With The Quick and the Dead (1995) under his belt as his first American film, the second was offered to him soon after. Virtuosity (1995), starring Denzel Washington, put Russell in the body of a Virtual Serial Killer, Sid6.7 ... a role unlike any he had played so far. Virtuosity (1995), a Sci-Fi extravaganza, was a fun film and, again, opened the door to even more American offers. L.A. Confidential (1997), Russell's third American film, brought him the US fame and attention that his fans have felt he deserved all along. Missing the Oscar nod this time around, he didn't seem deterred and signed to do his first film with The Walt Disney Company, Mystery, Alaska (1999). He has recently achieved even more success and awards for his performances in Gladiator (2000) and A Beautiful Mind (2001).
Filmography
2013 Winter's Tale (filming)
Pearly Soames
2014 Noah (post-production)
Noah
2013 Man of Steel (completed)
Jor-El
2013 Broken City
Mayor Hostetler
2012 Les Misérables
Javert
2012 The Man with the Iron Fists
Jack Knife
2012 Republic of Doyle (TV series)
Boyd Kelley
2010 The Next Three Days
John Brennan
2010 Robin Hood
Robin Longstride
2009 State of Play
Cal McAffrey
2009 Tenderness
Lt. Cristofuoro
2008 Body of Lies
Ed Hoffman
2007 American Gangster
Richie Roberts
2007 3:10 to Yuma
Ben Wade
2006 A Good Year
Max Skinner
2005 Cinderella Man
Jim Braddock
2003 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Capt. Jack Aubrey
2001 A Beautiful Mind
John Nash
2000 Proof of Life
Terry Thorne
2000 Gladiator
Maximus
1999 The Insider
Jeffrey Wigand
1999 Mystery, Alaska
John Biebe
1997 Breaking Up
Steve
1997 Heaven's Burning
Colin
1997 L.A. Confidential
Wendell 'Bud' White
1995 Rough Magic
Alex Ross
1995 Virtuosity
SID 6.7
1995 No Way Back
FBI Agent Zack Grant
1995 The Quick and the Dead
Cort
1994 The Sum of Us
Jeff Mitchell
1993 For the Moment
Lachlan
1993 The Silver Brumby
The Man
1993 Love in Limbo
Arthur Baskin
1993 Hammers Over the Anvil
East Driscoll
1992 The Late Show (TV series)
Shirty, the Slightly Aggressive Bear
1992 Romper Stomper
Hando
1992 Police Rescue (TV series)
Constable Tom 'Bomber' Young
1992 The Efficiency Expert
Kim Barry
1991 Brides of Christ (TV mini-series)
Dominic Maloney
1991 Proof
Andy
1991 Acropolis Now (TV series)
Danny O' Brian
1990 The Crossing
Johnny
1990 Prisoners of the Sun
Lt. Corbett
1988 Living with the Law (TV series)
Gary Harding
1987 Neighbours (TV series)
Kenny Larkin
1977 The Young Doctors (TV series)
Russell
1972 Spyforce (TV series)
Orphan
