Russell Crowe: Real day to day life better than celebrity

Oct 17, 2006, 17:06 GMT

New Zealand actor Russell Crowe (L) arrives with his wife, Australian singer Danielle Spencer (R), and their two-year-old son Charlie at Ciampino\'s airport, near Rome, on Thursday 12 October 2006. Crowe is in Italy presenting his film \'A Good Year\' by Ridley Scott. EPA/STR

Russell Crowe insists becoming a dad has allowed him to turn his back on fame.

The 'Gladiator' star - who has two sons, Charlie, two, and three-month-old Tennyson, with wife Danielle Spencer - says being a father and a husband has helped him put his priorities in perspective,

He told Britain's Live magazine: "The world of celebrity becomes this strange place to live in. But marriage and kids have made me less concerned with it."

Crowe's has also revealed his priorities were changed further by the death of his good friend, 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin.

The wildlife expert was killed on September 4 when a stingray barb pierced his chest while he was filming a documentary off of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

Crowe said: "That was a terrible blow. When life shows itself in such a way it's very difficult to take anything else seriously other than the needs of your family and your friends."

The actor paid tribute to Irwin at the public memorial service held in his memory at his Australia Zoo, in Queensland.

At the ceremony, Crowe sad: "We've all lost a friend, we've lost a champion, and we're going to take some time to adjust to that."

(C) BANG Media International