The competitive campaign to win an Academy Award “goes on forever”, according to Oscar winner Russell Crowe. 

The 96th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, will take place in Los Angeles this evening, with ceremony starting at 11pm Irish time. 

While he is not nominated for anything this year, New Zealand actor Russell Crowe won the Oscar in 2001 for his leading role in Gladiator. 

But in 2000 and 2002, he was also nominated for The Insider and A Beautiful Mind respectively.  

Speaking on The Anton Savage Show today, he said three consecutive Oscar campaigns have given him a good sense of how the awards work. 

“It starts way earlier than you would rationally believe,” he said. “It goes on forever, man, especially if it's a major studio film, they want to pick up every single vote that they can possibly pick up. 

“The actors are the face of the movie, so you’re the one who gets trotted out.” 

One actor who has been “trotted out” this year is Ireland’s own Cillian Murphy, nominated for his leading role in Oppenheimer. 

Crowe said Murphy is definitely “feeling the weight” of his nomination in the build-up to the ceremony today. 

“I don't really know him very well, but I did meet him when he first started to make movies in America and just told me that I thought he was a spectacular actor,” he said. 

“And here’s the thing: in the history of the Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards, it's very, very rare for the person who wins SAG to not win the Oscar. 

“He would have to be the absolute favourite at this point in time... if he gets it, it's well deserved and it's brilliant for him.” 

Crowe on tour

Beyond actor, however, Crowe is currently preparing for his “Indoor Garden Party” music tour with his band The Gentleman Barbers and Lorraine O’Reilly. 

Beginning at the Colosseum in Rome in June 2024, Crowe and his band will perform in the Gaiety Theatre on July 1st. 

Tickets for his show are available now. 

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