Stressed Crowe yearns for role closer to home: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Sophie Tedmanson * Entertainment reporter, Ian Gerard, John Stapleton. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T.[Canberra, A.C.T] 19 Nov 2002: 3.
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Abstract
[RUSSELL Crowe] may have to appear as a witness in a NSW Supreme Court case as a result of a brawl three years ago. Philip Antony Cropper, 38, Malcolm Brian Mercer, 38, and Mark Potts, 45, are suing the NSW Police Service for malicious prosecution and wrongful arrest after the trio was accused of trying to blackmail Crowe with footage of the actor fighting outside a Coffs Harbour club in November 1999. Charges against Mr Potts were later withdrawn, while Mr Cropper and Mr Mercer were cleared by a jury in June this year. The three have filed statements of claim in the NSW Supreme Court.
Full Text
RUSSELL Crowe is heading home to Australia to take time off from show business after admitting suffering a “massive level of stress” over the past few years — and copping a few bruises along the way.
Just a week after the Oscar-winning actor made world headlines for being involved in a punch-up with New Zealand businessman Eric Watson in a London restaurant, Crowe cancelled his band’s US tour and announced he was heading home to be with his family and girlfriend, singer Danielle Spencer.
And his girlfriend is preparing to welcome her errant knight with open arms. “Yes, of course, I still love him. I will be spending time with him over summer,” Spencer said as she prepared for a concert at a Sydney hotel last night.
In a statement on Crowe’s website, www.maximumcrowe.com, the actor said he wanted to spend time with his father Alex, who is undergoing surgery and to spend time with Spencer.
“My father will begin a series of operations in December … I need to be at home and available to him,” Crowe said. “Though I love all aspects of my work … the success of the last three or four years has also brought with it an undeniably massive level of stress.
“Let me clarify something else. I am in love with Danielle Spencer, but I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with her.”
Crowe may have to appear as a witness in a NSW Supreme Court case as a result of a brawl three years ago. Philip Antony Cropper, 38, Malcolm Brian Mercer, 38, and Mark Potts, 45, are suing the NSW Police Service for malicious prosecution and wrongful arrest after the trio was accused of trying to blackmail Crowe with footage of the actor fighting outside a Coffs Harbour club in November 1999. Charges against Mr Potts were later withdrawn, while Mr Cropper and Mr Mercer were cleared by a jury in June this year. The three have filed statements of claim in the NSW Supreme Court.
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Illustration
Caption: Love songstress: Spencer at a sound check in Sydney last night; Photo: Photo