With a decorated filmography under his belt and renowned for his prolific acting skills, Russell Crowe was sought to appear in a controversial movie named Eucalyptus. Hired to appear alongside Nicole Kidman, the actor was the director Jocelyn Moorhouse’s first choice.
After being hired for Eucalyptus, Russell Crowe was ordered to inform Anna Torv about her appearance in the movie. But, the actor refrained from taking the responsibility of informing her. However, eventually, when Torv ended up failing to earn the role, Crowe was unjustly blamed for the whole thing.
Russell Crowe Was Sought For Eucalyptus Beside Anna Torv
Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, Eucalyptus was considered a controversial movie that sought Russell Crowe to appear alongside Nicole Kidman. The Australian feature film was under development when Moorhouse hired Crowe on a whim. Further, she also recruited Anna Torv for the film.
“I don’t know if you ever knew the real story behind that. We didn’t have an audition, we met in a park” Crowe shared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (via Contact Music).
Later on, Russell Crowe addressed how Jocelyn Moorhouse wanted him to inform Anna Torv, that she’d been hired for the film. But the actor was totally against it, for he felt it wasn’t his responsibility to inform another actor about their casting. But the director wanted him to do so because she wanted Crowe to “create a bond of trust” with Torv.
“The director called me and she said, ‘You have to go meet Anna in the Botanic Gardens and you have to tell her she’s got the role.’ I’m like, ‘Why should I do that? That’s your gig, you’re the director.’”
Eventually, Russell Crowe agreed to follow the director’s request and even went to meet Anna Torv. But then he quickly changed his mind.
Russell Crowe Was Unjustly Blamed For Anna Torv’s Loss
Despite meeting with the Fringe star, Russell Crowe changed his mind and refrained from informing Anna Torv about her casting in Eucalyptus. Following his instincts, the actor simply enjoyed a good time and conversation with the actress and created a bond. But he refrained from sharing the news.
“So I went and we were sitting in the park and I had this sort of instinct: ‘I’m not gonna say that it just doesn’t feel right that I should say that’. So we had a chat,”
It turned out that Russell Crowe was right about his instincts, throughout. He was glad that he didn’t inform Anna Torv about her casting in Jocelyn Moorhouse’s Eucalyptus, for the actress didn’t end up officially getting the part. But sadly, the actor was unjustly blamed for the thing.
“I go back home to get a message from the director saying, ‘I’ve changed my mind, you have to call Anna and tell her she hasn’t got the role!’ Some sort of control issue. Five weeks later the director quits the part and I get the blame for it,”
In the end, casting was the least concern, for both Crowe and Kidman were unsatisfied with making the Australian epic. The script wasn’t up to the mark, and the film’s development was plagued with scandals and feuds. Thus eventually the movie never saw the light of the day.
