Big Breakfast with Mike McLean
(UK) February 20, 2002

Mike McLean: Russell Crowe, welcome to the Big Breakfast.

Russell: Thanks mate (shakes hand).

MM: You jumped me up the list to chat to me.

RC: Yeah, well I've heard you're funny. Go on, make me laugh.

MM: I'm not ..... I can't make you laugh 'cos I've got to talk about the film, then I'll make you laugh.

RC: (Gives look to camera)

(Show film clip)

MM: You play Nobel prize winner John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. Is the story .....

RC: (big smile) Do you always read your questions like that?

MM: Yes, of course I do .....

RC: You can't remember that bit? You're here in Berlin on a junket for A Beautiful Mind and you couldn't remember the title so (pretends to look at card in his hand) "and the movie's called ....".

MM: Just tell me about the film!

RC: It may seem like very dry subject matter for a move, you know, here is this schizophrenic mathematician. But I think the thing that was compelling for all of us in this movie was actually a gigantic love story. It's an incredible romance that is displayed in the film between John Nash and his wife Alicia.

(Show film clip)

RC: There's also a cinematic trick in this movie which puts the audience in a situation that they probably haven't found themselves before, you know. Um, at a certain point in the movie they realise that the perspective they thought they were seeing is not necessarily what they've seen. And people see it and then a week later, ten days later they're still turning it over in their mind and talking about it.

MM: He was a maths genius. Are you any good at maths?

RC: Fantastic, mate.

MM: Pythagoras' theory - tell me.

RC: What?

MM: Pythagoras' theory - tell me what it is.

RC: No, no, I don't drink .... I usually drink beer.

MM: See, the square on the hypotenuse is equal to the some of the other two sides on a right-angled triangle.

RC: You are a funny bloke.

MM: Yeah, I am.

RC: (Rolls eyes)

MM: Listen, I can't go... I've only got a little bit of time .... thank you.

RC: (Starts whistling and looks at watch pointedly)

MM: Don't start, or I'll show you the back of my hand.

(Show film clip)

RC: (Laughing)

MM: Now, you are a ladies man, like me. I'm a thinking woman's crumpet, not a gay icon. So I can't go without asking you some questions from the ladies. Remember Russell, these are for the ladies, not for me. First question: "Are you single?" That's from Sarah from Blackheath.

RC: No.

MM: OK. "Can I have your autograph?" That's from Sarah from Blackheath.

RC: She got two questions did she?

MM: She did, yeah.

RC: (Leans forward to start signing a card) Right, Sarah from Blackheath.

MM: Right, here we go ...........

RC: OK, "To Sarah" - - with an "h"?

MM: I don't know, don't make it complicated. I've only got a minute! Don't...... just sign it .....

RC: (Holds signed card up to camera and smiles)

MM: Right, here we go. "Blondes or brunettes?" That's from Maureen from Hatfield, she's a bit of a goer.

RC: Um, I don't think, if I'm attracted to a woman it's got anything to do with necessarily just their hair colour.

MM: Don't get serious, Russell ......

RC: Come on, make me laugh mate, will you?

MM: "What was it like on Neighbours?" (big laugh) Now that's made me laugh! You were on Neighbours......

RC: (Big smile)

MM: That's from Kylie from Australia.

RC: (Laughs) Yeah, I bet.

MM: What was it like on Neighbours?

RC: I was doing theatre in Melbourne at the time and I got asked to, er . . .

MM: I've only got a little bit of time -- you've got to be dead brief.

RC: I was born at a young age!

MM: Don't . . . How many girls have you snogged this year? That's from Bertha from Bournemouth.

RC: Yeah, yeah (slowly smiling).

MM: Truthfully!

RC: You didn't make that up?

MM: No 'course not. Here we go: "Who would you most like to duet with?" That from Kim from (mumbles) well that's just from Kim. Who would you most like to duet with 'cos you've got your band.

RC: Urm ..... Paul Robeson.

(Show clip from "Sail Those Same Oceans" video)

MM: "Are you free for dinner tonight?"

RC: That's from you, isn't it.

MM: That's from me.

RC: (Winks) You saucy little devil.

MM: You clever .... It's been a pleasure chatting to you.

(Both lean forward to shake hands)

RC: Cheers mate, cool.

MM: I hope I made you laugh, I did my best.

RC: (Laughs).