Russell Crowe goes from Gladiator to genuine Hollywood heavyweight

RUSSELL Crowe, who works out religiously while preparing for film roles and was in muscular form for 2000s Oscar-winning Gladiator, has packed on some weight during a rare hiatus between usually back-to-back films.

THE pungent smell of the fray, the taste of mud, the glow of incandescent faces caked in blood — the thrill of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs’ winning the 2014 NRL premiership season has changed Russell Crowe.

It’s given him a sense of hard won peace, says friends. It’s settled him, say loved ones.

It has also, by the look of photos taken of the actor in the US, increased his girth.

The actor, who works out religiously while preparing for film roles and was in lean and muscular form for 2000s Oscar-winning Gladiator, has let himself go during a rare hiatus between usually back-to-back films.

With no new movie roles pressing in on him, Crowe has been kicking back in the US where he was this week photographed enjoying the company of his eldest son Charlie during the school break.

Crowe is noticeably heavier. Picture: Splash News

Crowe looking buff in his role in the movie Gladiator.

Looking not-so-resplendent in a black T-shirt emblazoned with the name of his most recently released film, The Water Diviner, and what fashionistas might optimistically describe as “vintage floral” shorts with black runners, Crowe was hard to miss as an Aussie-on-tour as he stepped out in Beverly Hills for a coffee and a smoke while his 11-year-old son grabbed a snack.

Crowe, who traditionally entertains sons Charlie and Tennyson, in LA during the June school holiday break, has taken off both his rugby league club owner and film star hats to ­return to the recording studio with a new musical project.

Crowe out and about with his son Charlie. Picture: Splash News

On Thursday, the frustrated singer posted a few bars of himself singing the latest romantic folk ballad he’s recorded in an LA studio with long-time musical collaborators, singer-songwriter Scott Grimes and guitarist Carl Falk.

“Working on Vol VIII,” he posted to Twitter, lamenting the absence of his other musical accomplice Alan Doyle.

The New Zealand actor was photographed running errands in California.

Russell will star in The Nice Guys, a flick directed by Lethal weapon’s Shane Black.

Meanwhile Crowe’s fitness training seems to have been put on ice, along with some beer.

His most recent post cataloguing his often obsessive training regimen that largely consists of walking, rowing, cycling and weightlifting, came 157 weeks ago.

His publicist was unable to confirm if Crowe’s ample new form was in preparation for a forthcoming film role.

Likely he’s still just enjoying the afterglow of his South Sydney Rabbitohs team winning the 2014 NRL premiership.