Russell Crowe reveals he called his 'Gladiator' costume 'netball uniform'

The actor, known for his role as Maximus apparently has an affinity for skirts
Russell Crowe in 'Gladiator' (IMDb)
Russell Crowe in 'Gladiator' (IMDb)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Russell Crowe who played the title role in ‘Gladiator’ has revealed the name he had given to the costume he wore during the film. Russell earned himself an Oscar for his brilliant performance in the first installment of the franchise.

With the sequel in the works, Russell Crowe in an interview earlier had also mentioned that he was "slightly jealous" of not being a part of the upcoming installment. Paul Mescal plays the lead character in the follow-up, which is directed by Ridley Scott. The script for the eagerly anticipated sequel, which is scheduled for release in 2024, will be written by David Scarpa. 

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What did Russell Crowe name his 'Gladiator' costume?

In an interview with the Empire podcast, Crowe explained that because his Gladiator suit included a skirt, he referred to it as a "netball uniform." The 59-year-old actor also acknowledged that one of the reasons he was drawn to the character of Zeus in the Marvel film 'Thor: Love and Thunder' was the opportunity to wear a skirt. He said "I’ve had quite a bit of success wearing skirts in the past — Maximus had a nice little one. I used to call it ‘the netball uniform"

'Changed my life'

In an earlier interview with Collider, the original Maximus actor also admitted that he was, in fact, jealous of the upcoming installment since he isn't a part of it. Speaking with the press, he said, “I mean, look, the only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know? Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life,” Crowe then added, “It’s something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I’ve been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible Here it is, it’s 2023, and we made that film in 1999. I guarantee you, somewhere around the world tonight, Gladiator is going to be showing on primetime TV. And you don’t always get that kind of longevity with every film you do, so, it obviously holds a special place in my heart.”

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