Russell Crowe -- Good Guy! - 2This page
is in response to the bad press Russell sometimes gets. Good Guy 1 ... Good Guy 2 ... Good Guy 3 ... Good Guy 4 |
| Back in October of
2000 I heard that Russell was going to be given a GQ Award at the big
GQ annual award ceremony being held at the Beacon theater in NYC. I live
in NYC and working for a communication media services company that has
done business with the Beacon theater, I set out to make some phone calls to connections to see if I could get a pass for the event. To make a long story short... I got an ALL ACCESS pass on the condition that I looked like I was "working" the show as a tech. (With security concerns today this would never happen now!) So I dressed in a tee shirt and jeans, put the pass around my neck and into the Beacon Theatre I did go. There was everyone who was anyone there... Pierce Brosnen, Susan Sarandon etc.... I could of cared... I was looking for Russell. I even walked up and down the red carpet, passed the bleachers filled with photographers etc., looking for him. Well, it was getting late and no Russell. The award ceremony even had started and still no Russell... all of a sudden I heard a production assistant say over his head set that Russell was coming in the front lobby!! (the red carpet was at a side door) Hearing this I take off like a shot for the front lobby. (just like Russ to skip the red carpet!) When I got there... no Russell. So I walked back through the lobby and stood in front of the auditorium doors. Through the doors I could hear the show was well underway and I was alone in the lobby wondering if I should cut my losses and just go in and stand in the back and watch the show. Just then I look up and who is walking right toward me... it's RUSTY! He was alone except for his publicist Robin Baum. They were walking fast and as they passed me I fell in behind them. Now I had to play it very cool and professional. I didn't want to make contact or bother him in any way. So when Russell got to the auditorium door I expected him to open the door and charge right in... but he held the door for Robin first... now I'm thinking... wow, how nice..... THEN he looks at ME!!! He was holding the door for ME!! Now it is obvious that I am "working" the show because of my pass around my neck, the way I was dressed, jeans etc., but there he was looking at me and holding the door for a working "grunt" (pun intended!) like ME! I didn't know what to do... I never even dreamed he noticed me! I couldn't go in before him because I didn't have a seat! So I smiled and made a gesture for him to go ahead of me. He then gave me this great smile and this wonderful nod of his head! I then held the door for him and in he went. I followed him at a distance just to see where he was sitting (right behind Elton john). My knees didn't start shaking till I was walking back up the aisle. I could go on and on about my impressions of him as I watched him
that night but already this story is too long! All I can say is that
here is a A-list Hollywood actor with the world at his feet late for
an Award he is about to receive but he takes the time to hold the door
for some hired hand like me. Now that's a gentleman! |
| There are two encounters
or rather experiences with Russell, that stick out for me:
He was at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2002, doing a Q&A session after the screening of TEXAS. There were Mark and Tony and a whole posse of bodyguards and minders “protecting” him from us, his fans. We had been told by them that their orders were to absolutely not allow any contact whatsoever between him and the fans. But obviously nobody had told Russell. On his way out after the Q&A he signed autographs for two girls. And then he just stayed and signed and signed and signed for I think at least 20 minutes. Anybody who wanted to have an autograph could get one. And he answered questions and chatted. He was exactly the Russell that all the other people here described. After I had gotten my autograph I had walked back to my seat and just observed. However, when he was still there signing autographs 10 minutes later, I decided to approach him again. I mean, he still gave no sign of leaving! So he signed for me again and then he looked up and winked at me. Like letting me know that he knew that this was already my second autograph of the evening. J As you can imagine, I was rather unrepentant. And I will never forget the rather pissed off faces of his bodyguards and minders, who were obviously not happy about his breaking of the protocol. And I don’t mean Mark or Tony. They were cool. Reckon they are used to Russell doing things like that. The second moment was at the premiere of M&C in Hamburg on November 21st 2003. We had been at the red carpet and already gotten autographs. When we decided to go inside (we had tickets for the screening), Russell was still outside giving interviews for the TV stations and signing autographs. He must have spent at least 30 to 45 minutes on the red carpet before he even entered the building, endlessly, patiently signing autographs. Inside they had sort of roped off a path for him across the foyer, but other than that it was crammed with people and fans awaiting his arrival, lined up along the rope. And after he came in he just continued to sign on his way along the rope for at least another 15 to 20 minutes. I have no idea just how many autographs he signed that evening! Must have been hundreds. I wager that by the end of this evening he could actually spell his name correctly! We were sort of stalking him across the foyer on the other side of the rope, catching glimpses of him here and there through the lined-up people. Russell didn’t stop to chat or anything since it was getting late. He just walked along the rope signing autograph after autograph. And then Russell came up to a guy sitting in a wheelchair that was standing at the rope. It was practically at the end of the line. From there he would have only had to walk up the stairs and would have been finished. Yet he stopped, talked to the guy, shook his hand, and then he steeped down to him and smiled while the guy’s companion took several photographs of them. Then Russell shook his hand again, patted him on the shoulder and walked on, up the stairs and away from the crowd. It was the only time the whole evening that Russell stopped that long and talked to someone (other than the reporters). And it was certainly the only time that he posed for photographs (other than for the pros outside). We all know that Russell doesn’t like that and only does it very rarely. For me that was just such a sweet thing to do and so Russell. Taking a moment to do something special for somebody, making their day. You should have seen the guy’s beaming smile afterwards! That’s how Russell is. And he didn’t have to do it. He was running late, he had already signed countless autographs, he was in all honesty looking tense and fed up – and yet he did it. And it was certainly not a publicity thing for the media. There were no camera crews or photogs around, since they were not allowed inside the foyer. I treasure this memory immensely. I had only read about incidents like this but had never actually witnessed one myself. I was very much impressed by Russell and deeply touched. Still am. This little gesture is suddenly so much more important than all the hundreds of autographs that he signed that evening. He not only made that guy’s day – he made mine as well. Thank you, Russell, for all the wonderful moments you’ve given me and all of your fans - Barbara, Germany |
| I'm not sure if this counts, but
shortly after the oscar nominations were released and I heard that Russell
was not nominated for his role in "L.A. Confidential" I wrote
him a fan letter basically saying that he was robbed. About two months
later, I received an autographed picture, a publicity still from the
yet unreleased "Mystery, Alaska", signed with love. And whenever
anyone tries to argue that its not real, I flip over to the back where
he wrote, "To Kelly, thanks for writing." I was a big fan of
his before, but it was a gesture that made me a fan for life, to take
the time out to respond. I was also lucky enough to see him and TOFOG
perform in London a couple of years ago, and I still swear he looked
at me a few times, but its the note I'll cherish. - Thanks, Kelly |
| I don't know if anyone added to
your 'feel good' list regarding all the money and effort Russell and
his family have put into the rural Heart Start scheme in and around Nana
Glen? Russell donated a tidy sum of money to the scheme, and I believe
Mr & Mrs Crowe senior also help keep it going by being volunteers. There was also the more than generous donation to the local primary school to get their swimming pool built. - Beej |
| I'm sure I have told every one in
the free world of my encounter with Russell Crowe, but it bears repeating.
When it was announced he would be on Chicago in Aug of 2003, I was bound
and determined to see him. At the show, my niece got a note backstage
and before starting the second show, he stopped and asked where Aunt
Leona was. I answered from the balcony and he spoke to me asking how
I was, and was it my birthday, we continued to chat, before starting
the show. He never said anything about me being in a wheelchair or my
having MS, it was like it was our secret and I was one of the girls,
not different. Leona, Delaware |
1/12/04 - Adding this bit to the page - When Bravo needed still pictures to go with Russell's interview on The Actors Studio, he told the gal in charge to contact me. She did so, and thanks to fans like Jamaica and Ruth and Cathy and others, we found a wealth of images for the program to use. They were also kind enough to give me a credit. (Though I wish that had been shared). This proves to me that he is aware of our fan sites, and that he felt comfortable enough with mine to give my name. High praise indeed, and a kind thing for him to do. - Murph |
| The day I went to the ABM set at
Kean College last spring, he was preparing to film the ball scene with
the romantic moment of showing Jennifer the stars. Still he took the time
to go down the whole long line of autograph seekers and to write something
to each - sometimes on paper, sometimes on a T Shirt! Never a sharp word
to anyone. No one told him he had to do this. I still believe he felt
he owed it to his fans. - Murph |
| While the press claimed that he and Nicole were
having "an affair," Russell was really spending time with his
dear friend who was going through a very rough time. Russell is the kind
of man who really helps and stands by his family and friends. I thought
it was really sweet how he was there for Nicole......We
also saw this kind, compassionate man on Oscar night when he was giving
Halle Berry the Oscar-- and a little back rub! (P.S.-- wonderful idea,
Murph!)- Marina |
| I went to the set of ABM for
an autograph. The cast and crew had been working since 4am that day. It
was hot, and he was in make-up and heavy clothing. At the end of the day
he came out to meet his fans. He chatted with everyone. He signed all
their stuff and answered all the questions. He stayed until everyone got
what they wanted. He didn't have to do that, considering how tired and
worn out he looked. It was gracious and he is a class act. -Lisa |
|
I was fortunate enough to meet Russell face
to face as part of a very small group of people (there were four of
us all told) in Portland Oregon last August after TOFOG did a live radio
show on KINK FM. Russell went well out of his way to come talk to us.
It was a wonderfully fun and warm conversation where he treated each
one of us as if we were mates, not simply fans. I don't have much to
say except that he seems to me to be just a regular guy with a lot of
talent and drive. He was warm, gracious, humorous, inquisitive and left
us feeling as if we'd each made a new friend. He is just the sort of
person that I would like to have as a friend. He most certainly is NOT
the person the press portrays him to be. |
| I was at Russell's concert in Philadelphia.
After the show, he stayed and signed autographs for everyone who waited,
over 100 people. He went down the line signing, not talking or shaking
hands, until he got to a little girl about 10 years old with Downs Syndrome.
He stopped, whispered something in her ear (which made her smile) and
shook her hand. I thought it was a really nice thing he did. |
| He matched a $19,000 donation raised by his fans over at Maximum Crowe for the "Gladiator:Russell Cow" for the Cow parade. The funds raised benefitted the Texas Childrens' Hospital. That's class! |
| I have read many good things about Russell,the way he supports others,like Halley Berry,when he held on to her at the Oscars and said "Breathe mate,just breathe",he never once showed his displeasure at not being awarded an Oscar,which should have gone to him,had they been judged fairly. Then in a British newspaper, they reported that he had a "beer gut" but he was seen playing rugby in Sydney and the other men had to "up" their performance to keep up with him,so much for him being out of shape!! We, his fans will stand by him no matter what,I hope he knows that. |
| During TOFOG's 2000 concert, Russell donated money to the family of a Texas State Trooper who was killed. On 8/18/01, he performed a benefit concert for The Settlement Home in Texas, a charity chosen by Gov. Perry's daughter, Sydney. That didn't seem to "hit the media" because it wasn't "bad boy behavior". As a fan, I don't blame Russell one bit for being testy with the media. They certainly don't credit him with good -- only discredit him with bulls--t. Jealousy perhaps? Russell has a loyal fan base and he shows his fans how much he appreciates them. He's not phony and he has the guts to stand up for what he believes in. Thanks, Murph. I think all of the feedback you receive should be sent to the London newspaper. I'm sure they would be shocked to see how well liked Russell Crowe really is! - Jo-Ann |
| Premiere of A Beautiful Mind in Austin,
Texas in December, 2001. Russell's press people were hurrying him in for
the screening. There were fans lined up behind a roped area as he came
into the Metropolitan. He stopped and talked to a young girl, smiling
and signed an autograph. She was probably about Chelsea's age. He autographed
a CD cover for me and a shirt for someone else. They were urging him to
go on in but he came down the line anyway.
The SXSW Screening for Texas in Austin in 2002. He stayed and autographed whatever fans gave him until everyone was satisfied. He sat down on the stage right in front of me, swung his feet, relaxed and joked for almost 45 minutes. He enjoys his fans. He was charming. Why don't we read about the Benefit Concerts he gave in Austin in 2001 and again in 2002? The Gladiator Cow Donation to Texas Children's Hospital? The film he brought to Dripping Springs with a budget that is a shot in the arm to the economy. He is a loyal friend but I guess that doesn't seem fit to print. How sad. |
| In http://www.cs.nsw.gov.au/mediacentre/newsworks/2002/Newsworks_2002_Apr.pdf
NSW government publication (page three with 1 picture from ABM. Adobe
Acrobat Reader required). "Russell gives IRM something to crow about"
The story of the charity screening of ABM in Sydney describing hilarious
auction by Russell and Mark. - Tilabell in Oz (Habitual lurker) |
| I want to say that Russell Crowe
always seems to take time out for his fans. I met Russell after a TOFOG concert in Portland, Oregon. He came out on the sidewalk, in the on and off again rain, to talk to a good 30 or 40 fans and sign autographs. He looked each person in the eye, asked their names, and persoanlly signed whatever they had for him to sign. He's a sweet man and one you can easily talk too. He shook hands with many of us. He also tipped the waitresses generously at the restaurants here. Suzanne P. |
| I am not very good at writing down the way I feel, but all I would say is to anyone that has a negavtive thing to say about Russell Crowe should read the biography on him.... Then go and watch at least 2 of his films. Maybe "Romper Stomper" then "The Sum of Us" (2 very different film's). If by then they still don't like him, they will have to at lest agree on his acting ability. I have not been lucky enough to meet Russell, but from what I can work out he, is good to his fans. |
| A wonderful idea to have the fans
help the rest of the world understand the man we've come to love and greatly
respect. Russell Crowe may appear to the uneducated as an arrogant, beer
drinking, brawling bully with attitude toward the media and so-called
journalists, but we've come to know a different side of him that is funny,
tender, loyal and infinitely patient. He is honest, sincerely dedicated
to his 'art', giving to those he calls friends and tolerant beyond words
of the Fans that follow him.
I consider it an honor to have been in attendance at the TOFOG concerts in Austin, TX during the 2001 tour. I was there for all 3 shows, Aug.10, 11 and 18. Certainly, I was in awe at the performance level of not only Russell, but the entire band. As I left Stubbs that first night, I remember thinking what an incredible entertainer he is. He was good as a musician and singer, but what impressed me most was the rapport he developed with the audience. He talked to people from the stage, acknowledged those fans he recognized from the August 2000 concerts, told stories, and sang his heart out. A few of the most memorable moments for me was on the night of the 11th and 18th: Russell acknowledged Houston artist, Beverly Hill Smith for her "Gladiator Russell Cow" entry in the Houston Cow Parade, a charity for the Texas Childrens Hospital. Donations to sponsor the 'cow' were raised by fans through 'MaximumRussellCrowe' webside in a matter of a few day. Russell announced that night he would match those donations. The fans raised close to $20,000. With Russell's donation, the total contribution was near $40,000. A second 'event' of that same evening was an inpromptu sharing of that little golden guy - Oscar! A group of fans had made the 'infamous' banner - "Hey, Russell, Is that an Oscar in your pocket, or are you just GLAD to see us?". Later, during the show, he pulled Oscar out and held him up for us to see and share his joy. The crowd went wild! Those of us that were there and understood, were so tremendously proud of him and for him. He shared that moment with us as friends. It was reported that next day as Russell Crowe's arrogance. It was an incredibly touching moment for me, and I am honored to be part of what Russell calls "the pure of heart". Oh, if they could only understand HIS heart. Anyone who has ever experienced the Russell Crowe 'gaze' will understand why it's so difficult to describe my next experience. During the show, he came to stand next to Dean on stage and was acknowledging people he recognized from the 2000 concerts, even to the point of remembering what they wore. As he looked around the crowd where I was standing, I realized he stopped and was staring directly at me for what seemed an eternity. Now, part of my mind could not grasp that fact, but part of my mind was screaming "Oh my God, he's looking right at me!". I was so afraid he was going to say something and I would have to respond. I REALLY tried to be 'cool' and not embarass myself. I was aware that other people were now looking at me to see who he was staring at. Finally, I was able to just smile up at him. He rewarded me with the most beautiful and sweetest smile I've ever seen! Even more amazing, a week later on the 18th, he saw me from across the stage, walked over to where I was standing, bent down, grinned and winked at me. Never a word said, but he let me know that he remembered me and was glad I was there. That's the sort of man the media will never know and understand. I have seen him in person twice since last summer, and have the utmost respect, admiration and love for him. He doesn't deserve the bashing the media is hellbent to inflict and I pray that in the very near future that trend will turn. He is a very special and unique man with tremendous talent, heart and soul. Thanks for the opportunity to talk about Russell the Good Guy. - LisaCinTX |
| In Portland, Oregon on August 21, 2001 my son, daughter,
and myself met Russell in a small restored shopping area. We interrupted
Russell's few minutes of private shopping time, yet he graciously autographed
a copy of his Gaslight CD for me, even asking me how to spell my name
so as to personalize the autograph. Later in the day, he gave my daughter
his autograph on her TOFOG concert ticket she had for later in the evening.
He stopped mid-track before signing to make sure he would not mess up
the ticket, thus denying her entrance the concert.
He gives to family, friends, and fans untiringly and very generously. He singled out all of the children in the concert that night signing their soccer balls. Donating time to charity in Australia for research on children's asthma
and showing up unannounced in New York City about a month after the
World Trade Center calamity just to call up friends to take them out
to dinner and let them know how much he cared for them are just a couple
of the things I recall reading about. He refused to go down to "ground
zero" for any picture taking or publicity. He is very quiet and
unassuming about the good he does, and those of us who have been touched
by his generosity My daughter and I met Russell again at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City,Utah in January, 2002. He recognized us and said "Hello". Now that is a brilliant memory and indeed a "beautiful mind." |
| Back in May,2002, while filming ended after a grueling day of shooting the shock therapy scenes for "A Beautiful Mind", Russell, exhausted, was walking back to his trailer, after signing autographs. I was initially hesitant about approaching him, so I wasn't with the other fans. When I realized that he was leaving, I started hurrying down the path. He had already turned to go back, when I called out(what it was I said, I don't remember). He turned to see who I was, and patiently waited for me to get down to where he was. He asked my name and we chatted for a minute or two. He smilingly signed an autograph, said "Good night" and walked away. A gentleman and a gentle man... |
| I didn't see it posted that Russell won not only the Moviefone award for best actor in a landside, but also won The Groovy Movie award as best actor beating out every actor in Hollywood.How about his donation for the Cow award in Austin of $20,000 going to a hospital.And let's not forget the time he spent last summer signing autographs and talking to fans although he was playing a very difficult part and must have been exhausted. Grace |
| My daughter and I saw Russell Crowe at a concert in Philadelphia last summer. Not only did he give everything he had during the show (despite being sick with a nasty sore throat!), he came out after the show and signed autographs for everyone who was waiting. He didn't leave until the last person had an autograph. He politely thanked people who wished him well and was very gracious to all of his fans. At the concert we attended in Austin, he generously matched the contributions his fans had made to a worthy charity. He encouraged the fans to not send him anything, but "do something nice for someone that you love, and then write me a note and tell me about it." That's not what you would expect from a "bully" now, is it? |
| From russellcroweheaven. See a whole page -- "Crowing About Crowe." from printed articles |
|
Last night I looked at Spencer Treat Clark's journal of the making of Gladiator on disc 2 of the DVD. Spencer was the child actor "Lucius". His notes on his association with Russell on the set of Gladiator would melt the hardest heart. I was impressed with how Russell went out of his way to make sure everything was okay with this boy the day after Oliver Reed died suddenly. It surely had an impact on everyone, but would a vain actor who is a bully care how a child was affected when someone he worked with died? Russell took the time out of his busy day to take over for Spencer's tutor, teaching the lad math by playing blackjack and English by teaching him silly limmericks. He wouldn't have been able to concentrate on his regular lessons. The journal is a good read and should be followed all the way to the end for more cute interchanges with Russell. If he were such a difficult actor, surely a child would have noticed. They usually don't have the same inhibitions as adults. There was an article in the LA Times recently which described the problems
they had making "The Bourne Identity". They said actors were
furious because the script was changed and they were receiving rewrites
an hour before shooting. Matt Damon had some words to say, refusing
to say certain dialog, etc. It sounded just like what happened to Russell
with the making of Gladiator. However, Matt Damon was not vilified for
being difficult or having outbursts of anger. The writer was all understanding
of how frustrating such a situation would be. I think most journalists
just hate RC because he doesn't suck up to them. CJ |
|
If Russell Crowe is such a god-awful bastard, so difficult to work
with, why is it that so many of his previous directors, Ron Howard,
Ridley Scott, Curtis Hanson, to name a few have repeatedly expressed
their enthusiastic desire to work with him again? Why is it that so
many of his fco-stars speak of his friendship, his support, and his
encouragement? Joaquin Phoenix credits Crowe with helping him with his
stage-fright, while veterans such as Christopher Plummer and Ed Harris
speak of his dedication and his professionalism. As for his private side, after September 11th, he flew to the U.S.A.
where he did a surprise walk-on Jay Leno's show to sign a motorcycle,
the profits from which would be used for the families of the victims.
Then he flew to New York just to console mates and old acquaintances.
He did NOT go to ground zero. He did NOT pose for pictures. He just
did the right thing. As for his charitable contributions, they are legendary: the proceeds
from his first Austin TOFOG event were used strictly to help others.
Mention has already been made of the $19,000 he matched for the Children's
Hospital in Texas and on and on the list goes. In Coffs Harbor he is
revered for being extremely generous with his adopted home-town. |
| This speaks volumes--an
interview conducted by Russell's co-star in LA Confidential, Kim Basinger,
in 1997 for Interview magazine.
Interview magazine - September, 1997 Russell muscles in Interview with actor Russell Crowe -- Interview by: Basinger, Kim Intelligent acting hasn't been enough to make New Zealander Russell Crowe a star in America. But pumped-up and violent in his latest movie, he's certain to became a Hollywood hit this month. Here, Crowe talks about his journey with his L.A. Confidential lady friend, actress Kim Basinger KIM BASINGER: SO, Mr. Kiwi, I'm just going to shoot these questions off to you. RUSSELL CROWE: OK, my little Georgia peach. KS: When did you start acting? RC: I did my first job on TV when I was six. KB: Who got you into it? RC: My mother's father was a cinematographer, and one of his friends, who was a producer, conned my mother into being a location caterer. I was on film sets and TV sets all the time between the ages of five and nine, and it just fascinated me. I always wanted to know what was behind the doors, and as you know, on film sets and TV sets nothing is behind them. But I kept thinking, If I open one of these doors, sooner or later there's going to be something there. So I really lost any fears about TV and film performance at a young age, because I knew it was all fantasy. KB: What kind of kid were you? RC: I was shy. I was the sort of kid who would sign up for a talent quest and then, having done all the rehearsal and all the work, not turn up. [laughs] KB: Did you always want to be a movie actor? RC: I just had a drive to perform. What the medium was going to be took twenty years to find out. KB: You did musicals, right? You played Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. RC: Yeah, I did around 415 performances of that from '86 to '88. It's the only show that kept my interest, and that's because it changed every night because of the audience interaction. My favorite screen villain is Tim Curry as Frank N. Furter, although I was pretty good in high heels myself. KB: I bet. What would be your role of a lifetime? RC: Generally, I'm not somebody who covets roles, even if someone else gets a part that I'd like to play. I concentrate on what's actually available to me. However, I would have liked to do the first run of A Streetcar Named Desire. Get out of the way, Marlon! Didn't Alec [Baldwin, Basinger's husband] play Stanley Kowalski? KB: He did. I saw it so many times I could have taken over from anybody in the cast. RC: You'd rock as Blanche. KB: Maybe one day. Once you broke into films in Australia, what did you seek to do with your acting?. The characters you played in Romper Stomper and Proof [both 1992], for example, were ambiguous. Is that something that appeals to you? RC: Every role has different things that speak to you. With Romper Stomper, I was afraid of delving into the darkness of the neo-Nazi ideology on one hand, but on the other hand, I could tell that it was going to be a very important social document. That was the imperative behind my doing it. I don't mind being afraid of some of the characters I play, because it adds an extra level of excitement. But I don't do everything on that basis. I choose some characters because of their attitudes, and some because of what I'm going to do physically, in the role. After Romper Stomper, I did this kids' film called The Silver Brumby [1993], because I thought, I gotta do one for my niece. I spent three or four months in the mountains in Victoria [Australia] riding a horse, rounding up cattle, and cooking steaks at five o'clock in the morning in this little hut I was living in. I had maybe half a dozen lines of dialogue. It wasn't like making a film - it was like experiencing a totally different lifestyle. KB: So you're not necessarily looking to go to different extremes with each movie? RC: No. I think it's kind of pretentious to sit there and say, "I only dance on the edge," because that's not the human condition. KB: Where does L.A. Confidential fit into this? RC: That was about getting to work with wonderful people on a script that keeps hold of what the original James Ellroy book was about. And I enjoyed playing my character, Bud White, though at first I didn't like him at all. KB: What was your journey as Bud in the movie? RC: Let me just say that I make no analogy between Bud's journey and James Ellroy's. As a young man, Ellroy went around doing a whole lot of strange things, but once he found his passion, which was writing, he totally changed as a person. What Bud finds at the end of his journey is love - a woman he trusts and respects - which means there's no need for him to carry a gun or raise his hand to anyone in the future. He can put away all the things that have been driving him in life, the things he just had to go through because of his childhood. KB: Bud is very attractive to women because he takes up the case for abused women? RC: He makes a very healthy statement through his anger and his fighting and his resolve at the end. There's a purity about him KB: I want to ask you about a movie that I thought you were fabulous in. It was called The Sum of Us [1994], and in it you played the gay son. Some [straight] actors might balk at playing a gay character. What are your thoughts on that? RC: There are many questions I would ask a character - for instance, "Do you believe in the death penalty?" - before I ever got round to "What's your sexuality?" I think other factors are more important in terms of human relationships and the way society operates than what someone's sexuality is. Sexual orientation is not something that people necessarily choose; it's just who they are. KB: You and Jack Thompson, who played your father, worked very well together in that film. RC: Jack was the star of the TV show I did when I was six years old. Then, twenty-three years later, I got to play his son. It was one of those great cosmic circles that tiffs industry affords you every now and then. In many respects, Jack was my father in terms of screen performance. [pause] There are helicopters flying above my house. KB: It's probably Hard Copy. They must be running out of material. RC: Better not be, 'cause I'm sitting here in my underwear. I make my personal life as boring as possible so they'll leave me alone. KB: Do you think you've ever given a bad performance? RC: I've made eighteen movies and I think I've given eighteen bad performances. I'm still prepared to believe that I'm learning this job, and sooner or later I might give a performance I like. Unfortunately, I might not give any more after that, so I think it's better I stay unsatisfied. KB: Do you care about stardom? RC: It never even pops into my head. I have a passion for my job, and wherever that actually leads is where it leads. We'll just see. I don't fit into any of the current categories. All this attention I'm getting for L.A. Confidential will probably blow over in a couple of months, and I'll be able to get on with the acting instead of having to do interviews. KB: Listen to you. That's like doing all those rehearsals and then not showing up for the talent quest. RC: Give me a break. I was seven when I did that. That's the only time I've never turned up for a gig, baby. I'm a pro. [laughs] KB: A couple of years ago, you told Interview you thought you were in the valet parking lot as far as Hollywood was concerned. Where do you think you are now? RC: Still there. The only time I ever get a job in America is when all the other actors are distracted. KB: All right, we're almost at the end, pal. What's your favorite color? RC: It depends on the shade. It depends on the day. I do so like blue. But then I do so like red. And oh, I do so like green. [laughs] KB: What satisfies you the most? RC: I don't know about total satisfaction, but what's fun to me is walking into a huge open paddock, where there's no fencing and no means of control, and calling out to your horse, and from half a mile away, he comes to talk because he wants to spend time with you - not because you've got a piece of rope, not 'cause you're going to give him some food - just because the two of you have got a relationship. And you've got fifteen hundred pounds of God's beauty pounding toward you across the paddock, and he's pleased to see you, you know'? |