Teresa Palmer shares awkward Russell Crowe moment in exclusive interview
Teresa Palmer revealed she couldn’t “stop laughing” while filming a sex scene with co-star Russell Crowe.
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“Look there’s the room where I shot the sex scene with Russell Crowe.”
Not all interviews begin with a reference to a raunchy moment with Russell Crowe – but when they do, it certainly sets the tone.
Teresa Palmer, best known for A Discovery of Witches and Wolf Creek, stars opposite Crowe in the upcoming action-thriller Bear Country – which, as it happens, was filmed at the same Gold Coast location we met her at.
Wearing understated bike shorts, her hair pulled back in a loose scrunchie and without a trace of makeup, Palmer still managed to command the room with ease.
“I’m not looking my best right now. I’m going to look at the photos afterwards and be like, ‘why didn’t you take more time to put some makeup on,’” she laughed.
Having shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights including Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling, Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington and Crowe, Palmer has firmly cemented her status as one of Australia’s most successful exports. And as if Teresa wasn’t busy enough between acting gigs and raising five kids (with another on the way), she’s also just launched her own wellness brand called Lovewell.
From revealing the hilarious way she filmed sex scenes with Russell Crowe to the one thing she always has in her bag, here, Teresa Palmer shares all with her signature candour, charm – and just a touch of chaos.
WHICH CELEBRITY HAS LEFT YOU THE MOST STARSTRUCK?
“I was 19 and it was my first huge event – Cannes Film Festival. Isla Fisher walked into the party and sat next to me. I completely freaked out. I spent the whole time gushing and she was just like, ‘oh my God, you’re obsessed.’ And I told her that I named my turtle after her.”
WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH?
“Harris Dickinson in Babygirl. He’s got that next-level talent – and being a hottie doesn’t hurt. I came home and gave my husband a play-by-play of the whole film. Even now I’m feeling hot just thinking about it.”
WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH RYAN GOSLING ON FALL GUY?
“He’s the definition of a movie star – kind, warm, always cheering people on. He’s brilliant at ad libbing too, which pushes everyone to lift their game. And he adores Eva and their daughters. Just a beautiful human.”
WHO’S YOUR DREAM CO-STAR?
“Kate Winslet. I love everything she stands for – she’s spoken so powerfully about parenting, womanhood and how she was treated early in her career. We’ve technically been in a film together, but no shared scenes. Still waiting on that moment.”
WHAT'S THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
“Russell Crowe bought me a powder blue Prada handbag for my birthday. He found out after filming and went straight to the store. I was mortified – I hadn’t even planned to tell him it was my birthday.”
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FILMING A SEX SCENE WITH RUSSELL CROWE?
“I’m a notorious giggler during sex scenes. I’m so immature. They use this deflated Pilates ball or a giant foam pad so you’re bouncing off that instead of each other – it’s the least sexy thing ever. My character was meant to be really into it, and I just kept laughing. Couldn’t keep a straight face for more than 30 seconds.”
WHAT’S YOUR MOST LOVED SKINCARE PRODUCT?
“Rosehip oil. I use it every morning, every night. It’s amazing for makeup removal too – everything just slides off.”
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, $18.90 at The Ordinary
WHAT’S IN YOUR MAKEUP BAG?
“I don’t wear a tonne of makeup and I’m a bit of a cheapo. Maybelline’s classic pink-and-green mascara – it makes my lashes look like spider legs, which I love because I barely have any. For base, it’s all about tinted moisturiser – Giorgio Armani for work, Natio at home. The rosehip oil gives me that natural glow anyway.”
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, $14.99 at Priceline
“I also really love a tinted moisturiser. I don’t wear foundation except for work. And if I’m at work, they usually use a Giorgio Armani … 6.5 is my colour.”
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $120.00 at Myer
“At home I love the brand Natio, it’s like a natural tinted moisturiser. And I just put that on because the oil that I use, the rose hip oil gives you a bit of a glow anyway.”
Natio Tinted Moisturiser SPF 50+ Tan 50mL, $21.95 at Priceline
WHAT’S YOUR UNSEXIEST BEAUTY HACK?
“Whenever I’m in Indonesia, I got to one of those fish spas where they nibble the dead skin off your feet. My kids and I sit in a row getting ‘suckled’. I’m always like, ‘Is this vegan?’ and my son goes, ‘Well yeah, we’re feeding the fish.’”
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT?
“My perfume, it’s called Vetiver and it’s by Le Labo. I just bought my husband this really woody, smoky Tom Ford and it’s so gorgeous and delicious. I try and steal that off of him, but I was like, ‘okay, what is my version of this?’ and then I smelt the Vetiver and I was like, ‘this is my new scent’.”
WHAT ARE YOUR CARRY-ON ESSENTIALS?
“Travel-sized bottles filled with the good stuff.”
5 Pack Travel Bottles for Toiletries, $5.99 at Amazon Australia
“I also love just a regular lip balm to keep my lips hydrated.”
WELEDA Skin Food Lip Balm 8ml, $9.71 (down from $12.95) at Amazon Australia
“I also bring a tub of body butter, it just helps your skin look bright and it feels good after a long flight. You want to have something where you smell nice and you feel good.”
WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU NEED IN YOUR TRAILER?
“Red Rock Deli Salt & Vinegar chips. I’m obsessed. Every morning, I’d walk in and find seven packets waiting for me.”
Red Rock Deli Potato Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar, $3 (down from $6) at Woolworths
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