Russell Crowe shaves for the first time in five years – and now everyone’s saying the same thing

Russell Crowe has shaved off what has become his signature silver beard, with fans everywhere claiming that they now hardly recognize the iconic actor.

Gladiator star Crowe had reportedly been growing out his beard since 2019, but now, five years later, he’s finally decided to pick up the razor and shaving foam as he prepares for a new, yet unspecified role.

The result? Well, fans don’t quite know what to think after the 59-year-old showed off his new look on social media. The vast majority of people were shocked by just how different the Australian actor looks post-shave, and they weren’t afraid to let their feelings known in the comments.

Crowe uploaded the photo in question to X, writing: “The actor prepares #20. First shave since 2019.”

As mentioned, fans were quick to air their thoughts and opinions, with most expressing their dismay at the change the Robin Hood star had undergone.

“Age has made you far more interesting. And you shouldn’t hide your handsome face,” one fan wrote.

Another added: “Wow, you look 20 years younger! Looks good! It’s nice to change it up and shave. You have a nice face it was hiding behind all that hair.”

A third wrote:  “20 years younger instantly! I want to know what movie you are about to make, clean shaven is good.” 

The post itself has accumulated some 30,000 likes in a little over 24 hours, proving that Crowe is every bit as popular as he ever was.

Once considered a Hollywood heartthrob, the actor has taken on a different sort of mantle in recent years. These days he boasts an extensive body of work, though Crowe’s most recent film, The Pope’s Exorcist, was slammed for it “unreliability”.

Only last year did the actor reveal that his part in one of the biggest films in his impressive movie career almost never came to fruition, telling Variety that he wasn’t confident about Gladiator’s script.

“I was confident about my abilities as a leading man,” Crowe said.

“What I wasn’t confident about with Gladiator was the world that was surrounding me. At the core of what we were doing was a great concept but the script, it was rubbish, absolute rubbish. And it had all these sorts of strange sequences.”

Crowe was so sure the film would be a disaster that he considered quitting the production altogether. “The energy around what we were doing was very fractured,” he told Variety. “I did think a couple times, ‘Maybe my best option is just to get on a plane and get out of here.’”

What do you think to Crowe’s new look after his first shave in five years? Let us know in the comments box.