Even after winning the Oscar and starring in hits, the actor still finds in music the freedom that Hollywood doesn’t offer
New Zealand actor and film producer, Russell Crowe gained international recognition after winning the Oscar of Best Actor in 2001, for his interpretation of Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator (2000).
He has had prominent roles in critically acclaimed features such as The Informant (1999), A Brilliant Mind (2001) and Les Misérables (2012). His most recent film, Nurembergpremiered on AFI Fest last Friday, October 24, 2025.
But it doesn’t stop there: in addition to his extensive film CV, Crowe is also the lead singer of a rock band, recently renamed Indoor Garden Party.
In an interview with People at the premiere of Nuremberghe said that the band provides a creative outlet in the midst of his acting life. “It’s my theater,” he explains. “I’ve done conventional theater, musical theater and everything in between. But I started out playing in rock and roll bands, and it’s an environment I feel very comfortable with.”
In addition to the recent release, Crowe continues working on two other projects: The Last Druiddirected by William Eubankand Unabomby Janus Metz.
What is the Indoor Garden Party?
Before called The Gentleman Barbersthe band Indoor Garden Party was born in 2009, and released the albums The Musical and Prose And Cons in 2017 and 2024, respectively. The group’s lineup is not fixed, and guests vary on each tour: they perform in pubs, clubs and theaters that mix original songs and covers.
“I like playing in pubs. That’s what I did when I was younger. Even though my main job takes up a lot of my time, I never stopped playing music. My journey in cinema began by playing in bands, touring and releasing records” he says Crowe about their trajectory, on the band’s official portal. “Working with bands led me to musical theater (Grease, Rocky Horror Show, Blood Brothers) and, miraculously, a film director saw me acting in Blood Brothers and invited me to audition.”
Many international awards later — including BAFTA, SAG, Oscar and Golden Globe — Crowe still maintains his love for live performance. The band performed shows across Europe and the United States in 2024, and plans to perform in Sydney, Australia, in December 2025.
According to the artist, life on stage is much freer than on film sets. “Every day [no set] you have to submit to the schedule, the character’s needs, what the producer wants, what the director wants, what the director of photography demands, what the rest of the cast may need”, he explains.
“When I go on a rock and roll stage, it’s anarchy. I don’t know what’s going to happen”, he says Crowe. “It’s that kind of unknown factor, the audience response, and what you create together with the band is a little different every time.”
What do we know about Nuremberg
The film is a historical drama directed by James Vanderbilt (screenwriter of Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man and Panic) and follows the story of the captain and psychiatrist Douglas M. Kelley (Rami Malek). During World War II, Kelley evaluates Nazi leaders for trials, and becomes obsessed with understanding evil, forming a disturbing bond with Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe).
“Charm is one of the most effective weapons of evil”, says Crowe about your character. “You are dealing with someone who, as a brave and intelligent man, had an eye on the opportunities that presented themselves to him. Goring I believed I could control the narrative regardless of what was happening. As we know, this did not prove correct”, he adds.
Ramiewho plays the protagonist, says the film is like a battle of wits. “And when you fight a battle of any kind, you use your full potential. And that’s what I felt day after day with Russell”, he praised. “Russell can be very charming and very endearing, and the same applies to the character.”
Nuremberg also includes the participation of actors such as Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Colin Hanks and Mark O’Brien. After its debut on Toronto International Film Festivalthe film hits American cinemas on November 7th, but will only be released in Brazil in the first quarter of 2026.
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Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
