“I am proud of my Italian origins”, says Russell Crowe, renowned actor known for his work in films such as “Gladiator” and “Les Misérables”.
During his participation in the Sanremo Festival, this Thursday (09), Crowe openly shared his deep connection with “Bella Italia” and revealed fascinating details about his Italian roots.
The “gladiator”, in a post on his social networks, expressed the challenge of tracing his Italian roots, highlighting that family accounts and writing errors led him down the wrong path.
The recognition of his origins goes back to his great-great-grandfather — on his mother's side —, Luigi Ghezzi, born in Ascoli Piceno, region of Brands, on June 23, 1829.
The surprise of discovering his Italian origins was evident in his words: “I have always been very attracted to the country. Then, when I grew up, when I returned, I explored every corner of Italy. It is something enormous. After all, think of the contribution that this country has made to the world, to culture in all its forms. Thinking about my childhood in New Zealand, I would never have imagined having a connection with Italy.”
When asked about the possibility of residing in Italy, the actor revealed that he received honorary citizenship of Ascoli Piceno. With humor, Crowe joked about the process, asking the mayor about the number of castles needed to receive such an honor and, upon hearing the answer of “10”, he commented: “It's not bad as a number”.
In addition to his pride in his Italian roots, Crowe declared another love for the country when he revealed that he is a fan of Lazio, showing not only an ancestral but also a sporting connection with the Italian nation.
In 2022, the actor was named Rome's ambassador to the world by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri.
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