Russell Crowe Says Proposed Sex Scene with Connie Nielsen Would've Destroyed “Gladiator: ”'Doesn't Make Any Sense'
Russell Crowe Says Proposed Sex Scene with Connie Nielsen Would've Destroyed “Gladiator: ”'Doesn't Make Any Sense'
Raven BrunnerSun, June 14, 2026 at 10:20 PM UTC
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Russell Crowe; Connie Nielsen and Russell Crowe in 'Gladiator' (2000)Credit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty;Kobal/Shutterstock -
Russell Crowe recalled "sticking to his guns" when it came to not having a sex scene with his costar Connie Nielsen in Gladiator
"The studio, the producers [thought] there should be sex between Maximus and the female characters," he said at the Taormina Film Festival
Crowe previously admitted that he was "slightly uncomfortable" with director Ridley Scott makinga sequel to the 2000 epic
Russell Crowe did not want things to get steamy in Gladiator.
The actor, 62, recalled "sticking to his guns" when it came to not having a sex scene with his costar Connie Nielsen in Ridley Scott's 2000 epic while speaking at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, according to Variety.
"When we were shooting that film, there was a lot of pressure. The studio, the producers [thought] there should be sex between Maximus and the female characters. I kept pushing back," he said.
Russell Crowe poses onstage during the 72nd Taormina Film Festival in Italy on June 13, 2026Credit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty
Crowe explained that a sex scene in the movie would have ruined his character's story arc.
"This is the story of a man avenging the death of his wife and his child," the actor continued. "There cannot be a moment in that journey where he stops and has sex with somebody. It doesn't make any sense because that destroys the journey."
Crowe said he "stuck to his guns," and Scott eventually agreed with him.
"Luckily for me, Ridley — even though he'd love a sex scene between me and Connie Nielsen — agreed with me back then that that was the emotional core of the film," he added.
Crowe previously admitted that he was "slightly uncomfortable" with Scott, 88, makingGladiator II, which came out in 2024 with Paul Mescal in the lead.
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"I'm slightly uncomfortable, the fact that they're making another one, you know? Because of course, I'm dead, and I have no say in what gets done," Crowe said on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast in June 2024.
"But, a couple of things that I've heard, I'm like, 'No, no, no, no, no. That's not in the moral journey of that particular character.' But you know, can't say anything. It's not my place. I'm six foot under. So we'll see what that is like," he continued.
Russel Crowe in 'Gladiator.' (2000)Credit: Universal/Getty
The original Gladiator movie followed Crowe's Maximus, a Roman general who was the victim of a coup by the evil emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). He was forced into slavery and fought his way up the ranks as a gladiator so he could take vengeance upon Commodus, who killed his family.
The movie nabbed five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.
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Crowe attended the Taormina Film Festival International for the world premiere of his latest movie, The Get Out.
In the upcoming film, he plays an aging nightclub owner who is robbed. Nina Dobrev, Aaron Paul and Luke Evans also star.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
