He is larger than life, unpredictable, an award-winning actor, has a heritage which resembles an atlas and millions of fans all over the world – oh yes, he is also an excellent horseman who admits that some of his best friends are horses.

“I have been told I am a good horseman,” says Russell Crowe, “but I’m not exactly sure what that means. If it means that I don’t fall off then that is up for debate. If it means that I could win something in the Olympics, definitely not. If it means that I have a love of horses and count them among my friends, then that’s right on the button.”

Russell has been cast to ride horses in many of his movies and he is always delighted to be given that opportunity. “I do have an affinity with horses, so when I go through a script and find out that I have to ride that’s a real bonus,” he says. “Sometimes they insist that a particular scene has to be done by a stunt man and that can be frustrating because I always like a challenge, but you get used to having to sit out some of those scenes that you would really like to be doing yourself.”

Russell Crowe is such a very down-to-earth kind of bloke that you can forget that he is so internationally famous and, of course, an Oscar winner. “I don’t honestly think about being a famous face,” he says. “I’m just Russell. I have quite a few famous friends. If I start to name them it will sound like I am name dropping but some of us are like-minded and we hang out together now and then. I am not into image making, just being myself, and my friends all feel the same way. We don’t try to impress each other with our work or successes, we are just mates.

“Winning an Oscar meant a lot to me but perhaps not for the reason people might think. One of my proudest possessions is an MBE which belonged to my grandfather. I always wanted something like that of my own. Winning an Oscar is not the same as showing bravery, but it meant a great amount to me. Most actors are not truly confident that they are getting it right so when you get an award to tell you have got it exactly right that really means something.

‘ENJOY MY WORK’

“I just enjoy my work and I often get asked if I have a favourite role. I find that a really tough question. I have enjoyed almost all of them. Gladiator was good for me, of course, but I also liked Master and Commander. I like anything in which I get the chance to really act. That is when I know I am doing my job properly.”

Nobody could really accuse Russell Crowe of not doing his job properly – he came up the hard way, bitten by the performance bug when he was just a boy and established himself on both stage and screen before he was even a teenager. “I got a few breaks early on – I even appeared in Neighbours,” Russell recalls. “Silver Brumby was great for me. I think everyone loved Silver Brumby and for me it was a pleasure to be landing a great acting part which also meant that I was spending a lot of time with horses. Just to show how varied my work was, I also did a stage tour with The Rocky Horror Show. I loved it – you never stop learning in this profession.

“So I did quite a few things before Gladiator came along but I guess that was the one that really made the difference. Ridley Scott created a fantastic movie – as he always does – and I was in the right place at the right time. I had to ride in Gladiator, of course, and I think I am right in saying that every time you saw Maximus on horseback, it was really me. My horse in Gladiator was George, a really clever animal who knew what was expected of him. We met up later when he was working on Robin Hood and spent some time together.

“A lot of movie horses are great actors. They know exactly what they are there for. Stunt horses are the same, they are of that character that has been trained to fall and actually quite enjoy it. They get a lot of fuss when they get it right. There was quite a lot of riding with Robin Hood in which I worked with Cate Blanchett, who is a very fine horsewoman as well as being a brilliant actress. As I said, George was in the movie but I was riding Rusty, another great character. You never forget the people you work with but you never forget the horses you work with either – and they don’t forget you. Sometimes when you first see them they recognise you first and then you realise who they are and the old friendship begins again.

STAR TREATMENT

“I’ve got to tell you that movie horses are real pros and know all the tricks but they are also treated like stars, they get the best bedding and fodder and are quite pampered. When they are having their hooves checked it’s like are they getting a manicure. As part of the crew they are well cared for.”

So what does Russell look for in a horse? “A bit of myself really,” he says. “I like a horse that knows the script but doesn’t always stick strictly to it. Some horses are trained so perfectly that they just go through the motions – usually very beautiful motions but perhaps lacking their own individuality. I like a horse that has its own personality, keen to work with you but not necessarily to work for you.”

Sounds like Russell himself.

“I might be a bit rough but not as tough as the movies make out, although at times it is great to have such an image. I am an actor, so if I think looking tough will keep people at bay, I’ll maybe scowl a little, but the trouble is that when you have that kind of image and you are not really like that, you worry that you are not living up to people’s expectations.

“I’m not really like that, not at all. Well, naturally, that’s just my opinion. I have my moments of course and they always hit the media if I get annoyed with someone or something, but anyone who really knows me will tell you that I am just a fun guy really. I have a sense of humour which gets me into trouble sometimes – but I don’t have a problem with that.”

So, when it comes to acting and to riding horses, Russell Crowe is a real thoroughbred. EQ

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