Russell Crowe on Danielle Spencer: ‘Technically we’re married’

EXCLUSIVE: It has to be the most civil split in Hollywood. Russell Crowe opens up about his relationship with Danielle and his son’s strange career choice.

WHILE breakups are never easy, particularly for those in the public eye, it seems Russell Crowe and his ex, Danielle Spencer are still on great terms.

“Danielle is a great mum,” Crowe told news.com.au. It appears that their split, after nine years of marriage, had a lot to do with the logistics of Crowe’s constant travel obligations. “We both made the decision that the family should stop travelling together. It’s very difficult for me because when I leave Sydney I’m not going to see them until I come home. But that’s the sacrifice you make because it’s simply better for your kids.”

Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer back in 1992 at a party hosted by Peter Allen.

Crowe is in Los Angeles promoting The Water Diviner, which hit theatres in Australia last December. “The platform we have set for the boys is one of consistency. It was clear when we were travelling together that it wasn’t the healthiest thing for the kids. They had to change schools, make new friends all the time, and there was something in that style of life where the grounded shifted under them all the time,” he explains. “That wasn’t good for them.”

Although there are rumours of a potential reconciliation with Spencer, he says of their current status, “Technically we’re married. We are separated and discussing what that means.”

Russell Crowe at the premiere for The Water Diviner in Washington DC.

Wearing a black shirt and black trousers, his hair is a little longer than usual and his beard a little greyer.

Clearly, he enjoys a close bond with his kids, Charles, 11, and Tennyson, 8. “As a parent, you have a connection with your children that is beyond anything else. We always talk in terms of female intuition, but it can be expanded to parental, mother or father. There will be a moment where your kids are at school and you get a little inkling when they get home and you say, ‘How was your day?’ If you’re not a parent, I am sure that in your history there’s an ex-boyfriend who became an ex-boyfriend because of an intuitive moment that you had when you realised that, that bloke wasn’t in the place that you were expecting him to be,” he laughs.

His kids are Russell’s biggest priority.

Speaking of the unexpected, The Water Diviner, his feature directorial debut in which he also stars, took only six days to become the highest grossing Australian film of last year. That’s quite a trick given that it opened on Boxing Day.

He smiles proudly. “The success in Australia was unexpected because Boxing Day is a double edged sword. It’s the biggest cinema-going day on the Australian calendar, and that’s when they put their big guns out there, plus you have three or four Academy award movies coming out. So, it was fantastic.” He smiles. “I’m extremely grateful that such a risky date paid off.”

Not only did the film enjoy commercial success but it was also well received critically. “We won three Australian Academy Awards and followed that up with five Australian Film Critic Circle Awards,” he laughs. “The reason I mention that one is because those bastards haven’t whispered my name in fifteen years, so it was of great joy to actually be back into that circle.”

Russell Crow appears at Sydney Airport arrivals with Danielle Spencer and thier kids Charles and Tennyson.

His youngest son, Tennyson, had an interesting reaction to papa Crowe’s movie. “Tennyson was talking about his future career and he said to me, ‘Dad, after university I will go into a couple of battles, and then I’ll do something creative.’ And I went ‘Go back a little bit; what do you mean you are going to do a couple of battles? Why would you do that?’ And he said, ‘Money, of course.’ And I said, ‘Bub, being part of a defence force may have some tax benefits, but it’s not exactly a high paying job.’ And he said, ‘Really? For a battle? I would have thought you would get at least a million.’ Then he saw the movie with his best mate from school and said to me, ‘We’ve made a decision. We’re not going into the army anymore.”

Crowe could easily rest on his laurels, but he seems as passionate about his career as he was when he began in 1986 in the role of Eddie/Dr. Scott in a stage production of the Rocky Horror Picture show. He smiles, “Well, I’m still unable to resist a challenge.”

Originally published as Russell Crowe on Danielle Spencer: ‘Technically we’re married’