Russell Crowe Pities Actors Who Don’t Believe In Their Roles

Russell Crowe is making it clear that a paycheck alone is not enough to get him out of bed for a movie.

The actor shared his outlook at the Venice Film Festival, where he debuted his documentary, “What Love Builds,” a project he had spent 15 years developing.

The Oscar-winning actor said he felt sorry for performers who took roles without believing in the material. He also admitted that he had “mismanaged” his relationship with Hollywood to his own benefit.

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By any standard, Crowe can count himself among Hollywood’s most successful actors, given the many awards he has received over the years.

To get here, Crowe has followed his own path, including looking beyond the paycheck when choosing a movie.

“I feel very sorry for actors who make decisions to go on film sets where they [are] not believing in the subject matter that they’re working on, the character they’re working on,” Crowe said.

“When I have to get up at 4:30 a.m. to go to a film set, I absolutely need to know why I’m getting up at 4:30 a.m.,” he said.

According to Crowe, an actor needed a “fundamental love” for the work to find that motivation, and he credited that approach with his longevity in the industry.

Russell Crowe Says His ‘Mismanaged’ Hollywood Relationship Works For Him

Speaking further about his approach to projects, Crowe acknowledged that it did not follow the industry’s conventional path.

“I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’ve mismanaged my relationship with Hollywood. But always to my benefit,” he shared.

He also made it clear that his success had not changed what motivated him.

“It’s taken a long time actually for people to realize that I’m not American, because in that first flush of success, people just made a huge assumption,” he said. “I’m not driven by the same things that people who come necessarily from that culture are driven by.”

The Acclaimed Actor Reveals The Personal Question Behind What Love Builds

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As for his documentary, Crowe revealed why he chose to create the project while speaking at a press conference.

“My intention was to answer the question I probably get asked most, and that is to define the difference between music and acting. The film attempts to explain that the two things are completely intertwined for me,” he said.

The documentary explores Crowe’s love of music and how he has balanced his passion for performing with his successful acting career. It also follows his band’s recent European tour and features footage from previous performances across the U.S., U.K., and Australia.

Crowe Beams As Venice Audience Applauds His Documentary

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After the screening, viewers gave Crowe a rousing round of applause to celebrate his work.

The applause continued as Crowe broke into wide smiles at several points and gestured in gratitude toward the audience.

Clips of the moment were also shared online, capturing the warm reception to his passion project.

Russell Crowe Shares His ‘Euro Dad’ Plan To Spend More Time With His Sons

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While in Venice, Crowe spoke about spending more time with his sons in Europe, calling the idea his “Euro Dad project.”

His comments came after he celebrated his youngest son Tennyson’s 20th birthday on July 7 with a touching tribute.

“20 years ago today, at 7 minutes to 7 a.m., this amazing young man arrived in our lives,” Crowe wrote. “Happy Birthday, Tenny.”

Alongside the tribute, Crowe shared a mirror selfie with Tennyson in which they flexed their muscles. He also included a childhood throwback and a photo from a horseback ride they took together.