Crowe's £6m phone call
by NICOLE LAMPERT, Daily Mail
14:23pm 13th August 2005
At £6million, it is the most expensive phone call of Russell Crowe's life - and he didn't even get through.
The actor is expected to pay the huge sum to a porter he attacked after being unable to get an outside line from his New York hotel room as he tried to ring his wife in Australia.
Nestor Estrada was left with a cut cheek after the notoriously volatile Crowe threw a phone and then a vase at him in frustration.
The case was due to go to court next month and if he had been found guilty of assault, the New Zealand-born actor faced being banned from the US and a potential prison term.
The prosecution had a security tape showing him attacking Mr Estrada with a phone before throwing the vase and then giving a bizarre bow.
A source close to the actor said: "Russell has been hit where it hurts with this one. His ego is bruised and his wallet is griefstricken but he knows going to court isn't an option.
"The security video is damning and would become public if they enter the courtroom.
"It is almost certain that Russell would be found guilty and this would have a near fatal effect on his long-term career.
"Not only could he be prevented from shooting movies in the US but it would also prevent him from undertaking publicity tours or even attending awards shows such as the Oscars. He absolutely needs this to go away and it will."
Crowe, who is now in Australia with his family, had been due to appear in court on September 14 on charges of assault and possession of a weapon, which have a maximum penalty of eight years in jail.
'How dark my life is right now'
But it is likely that if the deal has been sorted out by then the proceedings will be dropped.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office said yesterday that if the matter was settled out of court it would be 'highly likely' to drop criminal charges against Crowe.
Mr Estrada's lawyer Eric Franz said a statement on the matter would be issued shortly.
Sources say that as part of the deal Mr Estrada, 28, will be banned from giving interviews about the incident and from undertaking any future civil proceedings.
Crowe, 41, was in New York to publicise his boxing film Cinderella Man, about the Depression-era heavyweight champion Jim Braddock, when the fight happened two months ago.
He was hoping to say goodnight to his one-year-old son at 4am local time when he struggled to find an outside line.
After complaining to the front desk from his room, he went down to the hotel reception and launched his attack.
The star is said to have broken down in tears after he was handcuffed by police and later said he was "at the bottom of a well. I can't communicate how dark my life is right now".
Crowe once pinned a Bafta producer up against a wall for daring to cut part of his acceptance speech.
And three years ago he got into a fight over a woman at a London restaurant. He later claimed he was 'stressed'.
He was thought to have calmed down after marrying British-born singer Danielle Spencer two years ago, although the phone-throwing incident would appear to suggest otherwise.
