He’s asking me to abuse him”: Russell Crowe Felt Disturbed by His 25-Year-Old ‘Gladiator’ Co-star Joaquin Phoenix’s Unusual Antics on Set, Had to Seek a Solution Involving Lots of Alcohol
- 'Gladiator' had backstage drama between Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.
- Phoenix's anxiety led to unusual requests to Crowe, but Richard Harris advice helped.
- Scott’s unique way and backing also helped Phoenix give a strong performance.
The making of the epic historical drama, Gladiator, was fraught with tension, particularly between its two lead actors, Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Their backstage drama was almost as intense as the movie’s fight scenes.
The film won a bunch of Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe, but getting there was anything but smooth. The road to the big screen was full of bumps and drama. However, it was Richard Harris’ tipsy advice that helped both Phoenix and Crowe.
Joaquin Phoenix’s On-Set Breakdown Disturbed Russell Crowe
At the time of Gladiator‘s shooting, Joaquin Phoenix was still pretty new to acting and found himself overwhelmed by the huge scale of the production. In an interview with Collider, he said:
I think that probably Gladiator was one of the most intimidating because the first set that I went on was just massive…I went to [Ridley Scott] and said, ‘I don’t know what to do, I just can’t do this. I don’t know what you’re gonna do. This just isn’t gonna be possible. And Ridley was really smart. He just shot me for four hours and he didn’t put film in the camera.
His anxiety got so high that he ended up asking his co-star for a really weird favor. Before their big scenes, Phoenix asked Russell Crowe (who played Maximus in the film) to physically rough him up to get into character.
Crowe was so surprised by this strange request that he didn’t know what to do. Confused by the request, The Exorcism star turned to the experienced actor Richard Harris (who played Marcus Aurelius in the film) for advice. Crowe said:
Mate, what are we going to do with this kid? He’s asking me to abuse him before takes.
Harris, with his usual humor, said, “Let’s get him pissed.” After a few hours and several pints of Guinness, they helped Phoenix relax and focus on the scene.
Ridley Scott’s Masterful Direction Helped Ease Joaquin Phoenix Out
Joaquin Phoenix even thought about quitting the film. The Joker star said in ReelBlend podcast that he almost left the movie even after filming had begun. But it was director Ridley Scott‘s constant support and unusual methods that helped Phoenix push through his fears.
Scott saw his talent and decided to skip the usual rehearsals. Instead, he went for a more hands-on approach. The filmmaker told the crew to shoot the same scene over and over without filming, creating a high-pressure situation that made Phoenix face his fears.
This strange technique turned out to be just what Phoenix needed. It helped him get his act together and finally nail the performance. While the film’s success is undeniable, the backstage drama shows just how much pressure and hard work go into making a truly exceptional movie.
Watch Gladiator on Amazon Prime Video!
