Aussie film star Crowe paddles into trouble with visiting US fleet

SYDNEY (AFP) Jun 20, 2003
Oscar-winning Australian actor Russell Crowe may be world famous, but when he paddled a kayak from his harbor-front Sydney home Friday just as five US warships sailed past, he was treated like any other potential security threat.

A police launch intercepted the film star during his morning paddle and demanded he identify himself, Crowe's Australian agent said.

"Russell, who is now a local, was out kayaking with his personal trainer and there were a lot of police out on the water because there was a big boat coming in," agent Wendy Day said.

Not recognising the actor, police told Crowe to identify himself, she said.

"Once he told them who he was, he moved away and then they (the police) moved away," Day said. "He had just been out getting a bit of exercise," she said.

Security was tight as the five US ships carrying about 6,500 sailors and marines docked for a weekend of rest and relaxation en route home from the Iraq war.

WAR.WIRE