Russell Crowe, known primarily for his illustrious acting career, recently shared how becoming a father shifted his priorities and impacted his career trajectory. While promoting his upcoming European tour with his band Indoor Garden Party on Heart Evenings with Dev Griffin, Crowe spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing his responsibilities as a parent with his career ambitions.
Fatherhood and Career Priorities
Crowe, now 60, is the father of two sons: Charles (20) and Tennyson (17), whom he shares with ex-wife Danielle Spencer. Despite his established career in acting and music, Crowe acknowledged that becoming a father took precedence, often requiring him to put aspects of his career on the back-burner.
“It’s quite a big chunk of my life once I had kids. The touring took a lesser place in the priority list, mainly because if I go away to make a movie, and then the moment I finish the movie, I’m now on tour, when do I get to be dad?” Crowe explained. “And I really want to be dad.”
A New Musical Chapter
Although primarily recognized for his acting roles, Crowe has been a passionate musician for years and is embarking on a European tour with his band, Indoor Garden Party. Crowe revealed that his eldest son Charles, a talented singer and songwriter, will be joining him on tour.
“The amazing thing is my eldest son actually gets to travel with me,” Crowe said. “He’s a singer and a great songwriter. That’s another level of excitement to it.”
Father-Son Collaboration
Crowe and his son share a mutual passion for music, often critiquing each other’s work. “Oh, he is savage!” Crowe joked about Charles’ critiques. “I can’t be that savage. And the thing is there’s no reason to be because he is just intuitively a very, very strong songwriter.”
The proud father expressed how performing alongside Charles is a special experience. “Sentimentality is my middle name, and standing on the stage with your son, there’s not a lot of other things in life that are more special than that.”
Music as a Lifelong Passion
For Crowe, music has always been a significant part of his life. “When I first started my pursuit of having a life in entertainment, the first thing that I did was walk out on the stage with a guitar and sang a song.”
Despite his nerves about the upcoming tour, Crowe finds performing on stage exhilarating. “You go through a cycle of time, make a bunch of films and stuff like that. And then you want to sort of get back to basics, rediscover this sort of adrenaline of walking out onto a rock’n’roll stage,” he said. “Super nervous, but that’s the reason I do it.”
Reflections on Family Life
Crowe and Spencer married in 2003, separated in 2012, and finalized their divorce six years later. Despite their split, the couple ensured their sons had quality time with both parents by going on holiday together each year.
Today, Crowe is in a relationship with American actress Britney Theriot, while Spencer is dating author Adam Long. Crowe’s love for music and family continues to drive his passion for performing.