News | Entertainment
19 Jul 2025 12:07
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Joaquin Phoenix was told he was being "unprofessional" by Russell Crowe on the set of 'Gladiator'

    The Oscar-winner, 50, is renowned for his portrayal of villainous Roman emperor Commodus in director Ridley Scott's 2000 film, but he wanted to quit - and was talked down by its straight-talking lead actor Russell


    Filmmaker Ridley, 86, who has just released 'Gladiator II' starring Paul Mescal, told the New York Times: "(Joaquin) was in his prince's outfit saying, 'I can't do it'.

    "I said, 'What?' And Russell said, 'This is terribly unprofessional'."

    Ridley added about how he also coaxed Joaquin to stay in the job: "I can act as a big brother or dad. But I'm quite a friend of Joaquin's.

    "'Gladiator' was a baptism of fire for both of us in the beginning."

    The film ended up winning five Oscars, including best picture.

    Joaquin recently said one of his favourite things on set is a lack of ego.

    He gushed Lady Gaga, 38, who was his co-star on 'Joker: Foile À Deux', displayed no diva tendencies when they were working together.

    The actor said in a behind-the-scenes featurette film put out ahead of the 'Joker' sequel's cinema release: "I found (Gaga) to be without ego and had such a fierce determination. She would get right in with us.

    "She understood that there had to be a rawness to the character. There's not a lot of actors that are comfortable working in that way."

    Gaga also spoke in the featurette, and said about making the 'Joker' follow-up: "It was a very special experience. I had never seen a world created like that before."

    "It brought out all of that rough and tough energy and how big these dreams were, and how far they would fall."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     19 Jul: Queen Camilla has become the first woman to be named Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom
     19 Jul: Jelly Roll sent Logan Paul crashing through a table during a chaotic episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
     19 Jul: Rob Kardashian quit the family's reality TV projects because he wanted to put his "peace and happiness" first
     19 Jul: Oprah Winfrey was called to help Prince Harry with a "duck problem"
     19 Jul: Liam Payne's sister still finds it "incredibly hard" to process his death
     19 Jul: Jax Taylor is leaving The Valley
     18 Jul: Joaquin Phoenix has apologised to David Letterman for his infamous "horrible" appearance on The Late Show
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Wellington hospitality venues are prepare for another big sporting weekend More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    ???1;Restaurants and bars are under increasing pressure from rising wage bills More...



     Today's News

    Health & Safety:
    Less than 0.5 percent of telehealth call and texts trigger help from emergency services 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Queen Camilla has become the first woman to be named Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom 11:51

    Golf:
    Golfer Matt Fitzpatrick insists the pressure lies with world number one Scottie Scheffler at the halfway mark of The Open major at Royal Portrush 11:47

    Motoring:
    Two people are seriously injured after a fleeing driver drove the wrong way on an Auckland motorway 11:37

    Politics:
    South Korea's new president faces battle over gender equality 11:37

    Politics:
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is joining the international condemnation of malicious cyber activity by the Russian government 11:27

    Law and Order:
    The injunction's been lifted on the details behind allegations against former Police Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming 11:27

    Entertainment:
    Jelly Roll sent Logan Paul crashing through a table during a chaotic episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! 11:21

    International:
    Victoria's children's commissioner concedes 'no-one' overseeing key decisions of office, Joshua Brown red flag 11:17

    Entertainment:
    Rob Kardashian quit the family's reality TV projects because he wanted to put his "peace and happiness" first 10:51


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd