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**June 28**
Film star Russell Crowe's £600 tip for pub's barstaff
(walesonline.co.uk)
BARSTAFF at a West Wales pub were left with plenty to Crowe about - when Gladiator star Russell left them a whopping £600 tip and treated them to an impromptu gig.
The macho Hollywood star showed his softer side during a break in filming for his latest movie Robin Hood, which is being shot on Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire.
He gave the three-figure tip, which will be split among 10 staff, after feasting on mussels and a Jamie Oliver-inspired chicken dish at the Carew Inn, near Tenby.
He paid the £240 bill for nine mates and then stunned staff with an extra wad of notes for their services.
One member of staff, who worked behind the bar when Crowe made last week's surprise visit, said: "I've worked here for two and a half years and the bar staff don't usually even get tips. Our boss has shared it between all of us who worked that night so we'll be taking home about £60 each."
Staff were also treated to Crowe's singing skills as he whipped out his guitar and began belting out the Bryan Adams classic Summer of '69 with help from ER actor Scott Grimes and X-Men star Kevin Durand, who play Will Scarlett and Little John in the film.
"Now if anyone badmouths him I tell them to shut up," added the worker. "He could have paid and just left but they stayed instead and entertained us. Then he paid us that tip - it's the last thing you expect.
"He seemed quite friendly and chatty like a really nice guy, and he had a great singing voice."
Crowe led his nine merry men through a rendition of Everly Brothers hits and folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary's number one song Leaving On A Jet Plane. The Oscar-winning actor has previously dabbled in rock music, releasing CDs under the name Rus le Roq and 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts.
Another staff member said: "They were singing in harmony as if they had been practising. It was surreal."
"When they first got here they sat in the garden but people started trying to sneak around and take pictures of them so they moved inside.
"Two of them were some kind of bodyguards because they were walking around constantly, it was quite intimidating. But later he came into the kitchen and gave us all his autograph and we had a quick chat.
"Then he gave my boss the tip and they left. We were like: "Did that just happen?"
Crowe, who used to be famed for his hellraising behaviour, reportedly quit booze after his 2005 Oscar-nominated film Cinderella Man. Staff at the pub let slip that he ordered one vodka and lemonade before moving on to bottled water.
Meanwhile, despite rumours the star had demanded a helicopter to ferry him between a posh Windsor pad and Pembrokeshire, it seems he is so taken with the rugged welsh coastline he's decided to stay on set.
The star, who was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia as a child, has been seen going back to basics and slapping steaks on a home-made barbecue in the actors' seafront camp.
One local witness said: "He seems to be down there most nights driving around on his quad bike. They've been taking odd bits of wood from the burner used on the set and driving it back to the camp to make a barbecue. It looks like they're having a whale of a time."
The 600-strong cast and crew of the Ridley Scott epic will begin the process of packing up and moving on when filming at Freshwater West ends on Tuesday.
**June 24**
It's hammer time! Swashbuckling Russell Crowe fights the French in dramatic
fight scenes for new Robin Hood movie
(dailymail.co.uk)
Oscar winner Russell Crowe is well known for his fiery temper.
So what better way to channel his hotheadness into something good than to give
a fiery portrayal of English folklore hero Robin Hood in the upcoming movie.
Dressed in full 12th century armour on a Welsh beach yesterday, Russell
galloped towards a French soldier while wielding an iron hammer in a gripping
new fight sequence........ ALL ARTICLE WITH PICS HERE
More pics theinsider.com
New pics HERE from comingsoon.net
**June 21**
Russ and Cate's very merry sex scene
(brisbanetimes.com.au)
RUSSELL CROWE and Cate Blanchett have filmed a sex scene for the new Robin Hood blockbuster, with Crowe revealing the on-set chemistry between the pair is very merry indeed.
The two Oscar winners are in Britain filming Nottingham , the latest retelling of the tale about Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Crowe described Blanchett as "very special".
"So far we have ridden horses together, seen off the bad guys, got naked (partially), wallowed chin-deep in mud, danced by firelight, attended a funeral and kissed," said Crowe, in an email to The Sun-Herald . "What can I say? It's an interesting gig."
Blanchett inherited the role of Maid Marian after Sienna Miller was dumped from the Ridley Scott film - amid reports the female lead needed to be a little older, to complement Crowe in the leading role.
"I can't talk highly enough of her skill and sense of humour," said Crowe, of working with Blanchett. "She is a wonderful partner in crime and now that we are under way, I can't think of anyone else in this part."
Crowe, who was on a strict physical fitness campaign to trim down for his role in Nottingham , has also hosed down reports of trouble on set with director Scott.
"His gaze is steely, his demeanour determined, at 72 years old he is an inspiration to every man and woman on the set," said Crowe. "Ridley and I have never made a secret of the way we work, we agree to disagree because in the calculation of both our opinions we create the best idea. There's no yelling, no diva bullshit, we are doing our jobs to the best of our abilities and try to do something special every day."
Crowe described the Nottingham production as "gargantuan - the biggest I've ever worked with".
He has spent much of the filming last week on horseback, with scenes taking place in Wales. Crowe and Blanchett are commuting back to London regularly from the set, with their families also based in Britain during filming.
Real Sheriff of Nottingham wants to meet the new Robin Hood
(walesonline.co.uk)
Leon Unczur has been trying to get in touch with hellraising star Russell Crowe in a bid to get a part in the multi-million dollar movie.
But the actor has not replied to any of his messages.
Now the 52-year-old Midlands dignitary is planning to make waves by visiting the set at Pembrokeshire's Freshwater Beach in a bid to secure himself a part.
He said: "We'll do anything to promote the Sheriff's office and promote Robin Hood.
"We could do it early next week. It would be a great stunt. Even if nothing else happened it would be fun.
"I think they would find it very interesting if the Sheriff of Nottingham visited. And let's be fair - they could make a great deal of it through their PR if the real Sheriff of Nottingham turned up and said "What are you doing with Robin Hood?"
**June 18**
New pics HERE from comingsoon.net
Actor injured during filming of dramatic battle scene as Russell Crowe's Robin Hood comes to life
(dailymail.co.uk)
It was a dramatic big budget battle scene harking back to the glory days of Hollywood.
But for one poor actor on the £110million Ridley Scott remake of Robin Hood the warfare proved all too real.
Medics were called after a cast member was injured during the filming at Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire in Wales today.
The picturesque beach was completely taken over by the film crew - who co-ordinated the action as dozens of actors dressed as soldiers arrived on the sand in longboats.
Loaded down with weapons, armour and thick costumes they rowed their way ashore before launching into the battle scene.
Russell Crowe, who plays the role of Robin Hood, took charge on a white stallion, swinging his axe as he rode along the sand.
He portrays Robin as an archer in Richard the Lionheart's army, who takes on the French.
It looked like one poor cameraman was in for the chop as an angry Crowe roared as he rode towards him. But he was just acting up for some promotional shots for the film, and left the snapper unharmed.
In a change of pace the 45-year-old later swapped his horse for a golf buggy - taking his co-stars for a sedate ride along the sand.
The film marks the fifth time Crowe has worked with British director Scott.
His version of the character was abandoned as a child and finds it difficult to trust people.
After King Richard's abrupt death Robin returns to Nottingham where he becomes an outlaw and tries to win the hand of the widowed Maid Marion, who is played by Cate Blanchett, 39.
Crowe stuck to a special diet to slim down for the role of the English folk hero, losing the extra weight he had gained for his last role as the CIA boss in Body Of Lies.
For that part, he had bulked up with cheeseburgers and muffins.
For Robin Hood Crowe is said to have eaten food with a low glycaemic index, such as peanuts, apricots and porridge, which leave the dieter feeling satisfied for longer.
He also cycled daily in preparation for the film, which is out in May next year.
'I was part way through getting the weight off and they said, "Do the movie",' Crowe explained.
Sienna Miller, 27, had been due to play Maid Marian. But producers were said to have feared her slim physique would make Crowe seem overweight during intimate scenes.
Instead, Blanchett was offered the job.
Russell Crowe to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
(news.com.au)
RUSSELL Crowe has earned a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has revealed its honorees for 2010 and Crowe's name was on a list of 28 entertainers.
A date for theOscar winner's ceremony, where a star will be placed on Hollywood Boulevard, is yet to be scheduled, but it will happen during 2010.
Other celebrities set to cement a place in Hollywood history in 2010 are director James Cameron, actors John Cusack, Colin Firth, Adam Sandler, Emma Thompson and Mark Wahlberg, and musicians Bryan Adams, The Funk Brothers, Chaka Khan, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, the band ZZ Top and, posthumously, Roy Orbison.
The Chamber of Commrce selected just 28 names from more than 200 nominations.
Australians who recently received the honour include Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett.
Earlier this year Hugh Jackman received another honour, leaving his hand prints in wet concrete outside Hollywood's Grauman Theatre.
"Hollywood's class of 2010 has been selected," said Hollywood Walk of Fame Committee chairman Earl Lestz.
"After much consideration, the Walk of Fame committee has selected 28 of our most talented from more than 200 nominations.
"Fans and tourists worldwide will enjoy seeing their favourite celebrities receive this rare accolade.
"What is even more exciting is that these particular recipients will have the distinctive honour of being selected during the year that celebrates the Walk of Fame's 50th Anniversary."
**June 17**
Russell Crowe camps out in the wild
(The Press Association)
Russell Crowe is braving Britain's wild weather as he camps out near the beach to film scenes for the new Robin Hood movie.
The Oscar-winning actor stars in the title role of Ridley Scott's new action interpretation of the medieval tale, and is filming battle scenes on location in West Wales.
Russell - who has been staying with his family in a Windsor mansion while shooting scenes in Sherwood forest - had his team investigate various hotels and holiday homes in the area, and even considered flying by helicopter from Windsor everyday - but when that proved impossible he has decided to rough it with the crew.
An on-set insider said: "Russell is a tough Kiwi, he's no diva and he's used to roughing it in the wild. He's staying in a caravan behind the beach just like everybody else."
But while Ridley and Russell want to film battle scenes in the sea, they're having to battle the elements instead. On Wednesday the weather was so bad the harbour master ruled it wasn't safe for any boats to go out and filming was cancelled for the day.
**June 16**
(comingsoon.net)
Russell Crowe Hits the "Robin Hood" Set
(celebrity-gossip.net)
Kicking off yet another role, Russell Crowe started filming on the set of Ridley Scott's latest production, "Robin Hood", in South Wales on Tuesday (June 16).
Joined by co-stars Kevin Durand and Scott Grimes, the "Gladiator" star was in full costume as he rode around on a horse before hopping into a dune buggy with his pals.
Meanwhile, it sounds as if Crowe has been a bit demanding ahead of the movie's filming, as he reportedly required that "he be flown by helicopter every morning to the sets of his upcoming film".
Not wanting to stay near the set at Freshwater West, the Oscar-winning Aussie actor instead hoped to kick back at a Windsor mansion - although an insider tells that he ended up settling into a trailer near the beach.
Despite possible tensions over the request, Crowe's publicist Alan Nierob said, "It's a good scene down there. Everything is on schedule."
Russell Crowe Rides Onto "Robin Hood"
(justjared.buzznet.com)
Russell Crowe and costar Kevin Durand (pictured below) shoot new scenes for the much-anticiapted movie, Robin Hood on Tuesday (June 16) in Wales, England.
The Ridley Scott-directed blockbuster, which also stars Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, has taken over much of a Pembrokeshire beach with a cast and crew of over 800, plus 130 horses.
Robin Hood is set to be completed by August for a wide release in 2010.
(theinsider.com)
**June 15**
Welsh beach used for Robin Hood film staring Russell Crowe
(walesonline.co.uk)
FILM fans were treated to a spectacle yesterday on the Welsh beach set of the new multi-million dollar Robin Hood movie.
A herd of horses and riders were seen plunging through the surf at the water's edge on Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire - filming has just finished for the final Harry Potter film at the same location.
Onlookers watched as a ship consisting of a wooden frame with furled sails and rigging was wheeled onto the stones at the top of the beach.
But so far the film hasn't attracted the large crowds which flocked to see Harry Potter stars, including Daniel Radcliffe and Helena Bonham-Carter, as they filmed the franchise's next installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
About 70 people had drifted onto the beach to watch yesterday's action.
One bystander said: "The horses riding down the beach caused a bit of a stir. They were galloping through the surf, it looked pretty impressive.
"They seemed to be rehearsing or exercising or something. It looks like they are going to do a piece where Russell Crowe might land on the beach because they've built that huge ship.
"There must have been about 30 horses on the beach and people are saying there are going to be 160 of them at the high-point of the filming."
Last week thatched huts sprung up on the headland overlooking the award-winning beach, and rumours were circulating that lead actor Russell Crowe had insisted on making daily helicopter flights from Windsor to the set.
The beach is rumoured to be the location for a grand battle, which takes place when legendary outlaw Robin Hood arrives home from the Holy Land.
The $175m epic, directed by Blade Runner and Gladiator director Ridley Scott, is set to shoot on Freshwater West for 15 days until June 30.
While the Harry Potter film had just one production base, three have been set for Robin Hood - one for horses, one for cast and crew and another for props.
Casting for the 450 extras began in May, with 1,000 hopefuls lining up at Pembroke Dock for a chance to appear with Crowe and fellow Australian Cate Blanchett, who will play Maid Marian.
Marshals and beach cleaners have also been recruited and 250 crew populate the bases, one of which houses two 6ft pyres and four wooden longboats.
Jennifer Watkins, wife of community councillor Terry Watkins, who lives on a farm close to the beach, said: "It's enormous, absolutely huge. I’ve never seen anything like it.
"When you watch a film you never think about all the work that goes on behind the scenes and it will be interesting to see the finished result.
All the caravans are in a field as you're going away from the beach and all the extras and horses are over the Angle side".
"I am a Russell Crowe fan and it would be wonderful to see him, but it's highly unlikely he's going to want to pop into a tiny old farmhouse like ours."
This latest film of the Robin Hood story has undergone several script incarnations, one of which saw the film named Nottingham, with Hood as the enemy and the Sheriff of Nottingham as the protagonist.
Filming for the blockbuster is set to be completed by August for a general release in 2010.
**June 12**
(mirror.co.uk)
Russell Crowe demands daily flights to Robin Hood film set
Russell Crowe is demanding to be flown by helicopter from Windsor to Wales every morning to film new movie Robin Hood.
Crowe says he does not want to stay near the set in Cardiff when filming begins next week.
So he is insisting producers lay on helicopter flights costing thousands of pounds a time to ferry him from the Windsor mansion where he is living. He is asking to be picked up each morning from the gardens of the sprawling home and flown back at night after filming ends.
Director Ridley Scott is said not to be keen about the idea.
**June 10**
Actors' guild approves two-year contract
(cnn.com)
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Members of the Screen Actors Guild
overwhelmingly voted to approve a new two-year contract with studios
and producers, the union announced Tuesday..........
ALL ARTICLE HERE
**June 9**
Joe Maximus: Rags-to-riches trainer Janiak targets Gladiator
Crowe to takeover the saddle in Hollywood film
(dailymail.co.uk)
A film about the rags-to-riches story of champion Aussie sprinter Takeover Target will be clinched within the next week with Russell Crowe being sought to play Joe Janiak, the taxi-driver turned globetrotting trainer.
It is understood British filmmaker Brian Cook is trying to lure Hollywood A-lister Crowe to Royal Ascot on Saturday week where the 10-year-old gelding will again bid to win the Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Janiak, whose book, Against All Odds, will be launched in Melbourne Cup week in November, met Cook in Newmarket last week.
'I've got a contract to sign once I get a solicitor to read through it,' said the Australian.
'Once I've done that, it's away we go. Some of the script has already been written and a transcript of the book arrives next week.
'There's talk of Crowe being in it. The director knows him and he's going to be approached. More or less, it's Australia's version of Seabiscuit.
'It will probably be three or four months before they start filming and they are going to do the Ascot shots next year.'
Crowe is best known for playing roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the epic 2000 Ridley Scott film Gladiator.
Janiak, who once drove cabs part-time, bought the one-time crocked sprinter for £500 and transformed him into a world champion who has now won 21 of his 40 starts, including the 2006 King's Stand Stakes.
Janiak and fellow Aussie trainer Danny Morton, who saddles Scenic Blast in the King's Stand, were given a scare on Monday when one of the six two-year-olds sent over to run at Ascot by American trainer Wesley Ward showed signs of a fever.
The sick horse was stabled just a few yards from the Australian sprinters.
Morton said: 'We'll keep a close eye on things and if the situation became extreme I'd move my horse.'
**June 5**
EXCLUSIVE: Crowe on the set of Robin Hood
(livenews.com.au)
Alan Jones talks to Russell Crowe on the set of the Ridley
Scott-directed Robin Hood.
HERE the audio file
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