Russell Tells 'Yes, I'm In Love With Nicole!'

The Aussie actress hasgiven her buddy a new lease on life.

When Russell Crowe learned he would be starring with none other than Nicole Kidman in his new movie, no-one could wipe the smile off his face.

The Wellington-born Gladiator actor is not too shy to admit he’s been a longtime admirer of the Aussie beauty – and sure enough, the Oscar winners’ onscreen chemistry is so spellbinding, their upcoming film Boy Erased has been tipped to win big at next year’s Academy Awards.

It’ll be a much-needed career comeback for Russell, 54, but even more than that, on-set sources tell us that working with Hollywood darling Nicole, 51, has given the notoriously grumpy actor a new lease on life.

“Spending time with Nicole again has put a spring in Russell’s step – he utterly adores her,” one insider tells us. “He is so picky about who he trusts and wants to be with these days, but there’s something about Nicole that makes him feel alive. They’ve always been close, but that bond has grown, and they’ve been spending a lot of time together on and off the set.

“Of course, it’s purely respectful and platonic, but their closeness is noticeable and it’s even got people joking that they act like a real-life married couple!”