'She invited 12 of her girlfriends... plus her mother!' Russell Crowe reveals how estranged wife Danielle Spencer swooned over Ryan Gosling at 'intimate' dinner party
He separated from wife of nine years Danielle Spencer in 2012.
But Russell Crowe is still happy to talk about their on-off relationship, as he revealed a hilarious story about Danielle's first meeting with his co-star Ryan Gosling this week.
He explained on Tuesday's The Ellen Show how he invited Ryan to a private dinner party several years ago - but was surprised when his wife 'invited 12 of her girlfriends' to meet the Hollywood star.
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Awkward! Russell Crowe revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday that his estranged wife Danielle Spencer 'invited 12 of her girlfriends' to what was supposed to be private double date with Ryan Gosling and his girlfriend Eva Mendes several years ago
Russell previously arranged a meeting with Ryan to discuss a film project, inviting him and his girlfriend Eva Mendes for a double-date with himself and Danielle.
But singer Danielle instead asked a group of female pals to crash the party - which resulted in a very awkward encounter for Ryan.
The 45-year-old even invited her own mother to the soirée - which prompted Russell to frantically find male guests to balance out the gender ratio.
What can you do? Russell Crowe is still happy to talk about their on-off relationship, as he revealed a hilarious story about Danielle's first meeting with his co-star Ryan Gosling on Ellen this week
All smiles: The 52-year-old was in good spirits as he told the anecdote to chat show host Ellen DeGeneres (right) earlier this week
Russell explained: 'I wanted to reach out to him... and talk to him about a particular project, this was a couple of years ago.
'We made this little arrangement, I said, "Look let's get together and talk about this project, just a quiet dinner, me and the wife - I was married at the time - and you and your lady."
'And he was like, "Cool, man. That would be so cool, just the four of us". And so I told the wife, on this date we're going to have dinner with Ryan Gosling.
Double date? Ryan Gosling and actress Eva, 42, have been in a relationship since September 2011 and they have two children together
'She didn't really say much. But on the day, I was talking to her and she'd invited 12 of her girlfriends!' he revealed at the crowd burst into laughter.
'So I'd sold this idea to Ryan that we're going to be having this little intimate dinner but I've got my wife and 12 of her girlfriends, plus her mother!'
The Gladiator star continued: 'I can't have him walk into the room with his girlfriend and there be, like, 16 women, so I re-balanced it by calling blokes.
That wasn't planned! The New Zealand-born actor told how Danielle ambushed Hollywood heartthrob Ryan by inviting several female friends and her mother to their intimate dinner party
'I called RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, I called (horror film director) Eli Roth, I called all these friends and got them together.
'So Ryan comes in expecting this intimate dinner party and there's 30 people. I didn't get to explain to him why until a couple of years later when we started working together!'
Russell and Ryan, 35, are currently starring in comedy flick The Nice Guys, about a private detective and hitman searching for a missing adult film star in 1970s Los Angeles.
New project: Russell and Ryan, 35, are currently starring in comedy flick The Nice Guys
Meanwhile, Russell and wife Danielle separated in October 2012, but he has previously told the Sunday Times newspaper he still has feelings for his ex.
'I've loved Danielle Spencer since 1989 - that's never going to change - and that's one of those things where I stare at her and go, "How did this fail?"', he confessed.
'I still can't work it out, because my feelings for her have never changed.'
Ryan and actress Eva, 42, have been in a relationship since September 2011 and they have two children together.
Mystery: The film tells the story of a private detective, played by Gosling, and hitman searching for a missing adult film star in 1970s Los Angeles
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