Move over, Mel-Aussie actor Russell Crowe has splashed onto the Hollywood scene with a roaring battle cry. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Crowe took Hollywood by storm in 1997 with his role as morally questionable Detective Bud White in L.A. Confidential and has since followed it up with one meaty, risky role after another. Nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in 1999's The Insider, Crowe's role as Maximus in 2000's Roman-era epic summer smash hit Gladiator again took audiences by storm and garnered Crowe his first Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001. He has been called 'blunt,' 'rude' and 'hotheaded' (and those are some of the nicer terms) by the media for such antics as picking fights on movie sets, walking out on interviewers and once, reportedly, even pulling a small pistol on a set stylist (long story, don't ask). It's up to speculation what actor Dennis Quaid is calling Crowe these days, since Crowe snaked away Quaid's leading lady, actress Meg Ryan (Ryan and Crowe have been romantically linked off and on since costarring in 2000's Proof of Life; there have even been rumors of wedding bells for the two, but also rumors of nasty breakups). What do the Stars have to say about this hotheaded 'loaded gun'?

Birth Details:

April 7, 1964

Wellington, New Zealand

Crowe was born, not at all surprisingly, under a fiery Aries Sun. Aries is a Fire Sign, and its presence floods Crowe's chart-both his Mars (Planet of Passion) and his Jupiter (Planet of Luck) reside in Aries as well. Aries is sometimes dubbed the Sign of the Warrior; could this have something to do with Crowe's attraction to the role of Maximus, the Roman general who is wronged and rises up as a hero in Gladiator? Probably so; it even better explains the actor's reputation as being, well, sometimes a bit hard to handle. Crowe probably understood his role in Gladiator instantly; Aries is symbolized by the Ram, and those born under its influence tend to use that Ram energy to butt heads with anyone and everyone who gets in their way.

Crowe's Mercury, the Planet of Communication, lies in more steady, Earthy Taurus. This is a fortunate influence as it brings a grounded calm to his Aries fire. Those with Mercury in Taurus are given to practical thinking and common sense. They possess sound judgment that takes everything, including financial prudence, into consideration during any decision-making process.  No wonder Crowe has made such good career choices for himself. Even in interviews his communication style is typical of the steady, headstrong Bull: He has been known to leave an interview due to 'boredom,' seeing no reason to stick around when things aren't going to his liking. He also has stated in no uncertain terms his refusal to ever consider moving to Hollywood. His farm in the Australian bush suits him just fine, thank you very much, and the down-to-earth Down Under is much more to his liking than glittery Tinseltown. Crowe is no-nonsense, just like a Bull!

His Mars and Jupiter in Aries further explain Crowe's brash, honest-to-a-fault interviewing style. Jupiter, Planet of Luck, in Aries makes him outspoken, even zealous. He says what he means and not one word more! Mars, the Planet of Passion, in Aries signifies that Crowe is a man of immediate, direct action. He wants what he wants when he wants it and he's not willing to wait. Could this intensity and impatience help explain his pulling the pistol on the poor movie crew member? Probably so! It may even better explain his tangling with married-lady Meg, however. He saw what he wanted and he went after it-well, her-without a thought for the consequences (such as, what it might do to her decade-long marriage to Quaid). But then, that's Mars in Aries for you.

His Venus resides in Gemini, an Air Sign given to mercurial changes of mood and fancy. This placement of the Planet of Love may not bode well for Crowe's relationship with Ryan; it signifies he's an individual who may find it hard to settle down. Settling down clearly wasn't a problem for Meg, however-at least, not until Crowe came along! This Gemini love influence is further exacerbated by Crowe's Venus Square Uranus, which can result in a hectic love life, and his Venus Square Saturn, which often inhibits romantic expression. Like others with their Venus in chatty, airy Gemini, however, he is sure to be charming, friendly and witty toward Meg or anyone else who (momentarily) catches his fancy.

As Venus also rules Money as well as Love, its position in Gemini in his chart may mean Crowe has a tendency to spend those Australian dollars a bit frivolously. No matter; this Hollywood star is on the rise, and he's sure to keep securing plum, plenty-well-paying roles well into the future.

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