'At this age you have to be careful': Russell Crowe, 52, says he avoided doing his own stunts in The Nice Guys... but still suffered a broken nose in a fight scene

By Alicia Vrajlal and Jo Scrimshire For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:12 EST, 26 May 2016 | Updated: 03:15 EST, 26 May 2016

He has previously performed an array of daring stunts in action flicks such as The Gladiator.

But Russell Crowe, 52, has revealed that he deliberately scaled back the stunt work for his new film The Nice Guys, which also stars Ryan Gosling, 35.

Despite this, he still managed to suffer a broken nose in a hand-to-hand fight scene with Keith David. 

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Holding back: Russell Crowe (left) says he performed a minimal amount of his own stunts for new film The Nice Guys, alongside co-star Ryan Gosling (right) 

Holding back: Russell Crowe (left) says he performed a minimal amount of his own stunts for new film The Nice Guys, alongside co-star Ryan Gosling (right) 

Explaining his reasons for scaling back on the stunts, the father-of-two told news.com.au: 'At this age, you have to be a little bit careful'.   

'It's a purely practical thing. It's not being precious,' he said. 

Russell, who gained 27 kilograms for the role of Jackson Healy, previously spoke to stuff.co.nz about the injury he sustained in a fight sequence by a hot tub.

Action man: Explaining his reason for holding back, the father-of-two has said: 'At this age, you have to be a little bit careful' 

Action man: Explaining his reason for holding back, the father-of-two has said: 'At this age, you have to be a little bit careful' 

Different approaches: While Russell, who gained 27 kilograms for the role of Jackson Healy, took a less active approach, his co-star Ryan immersed himself into the stunts to a greater degree 

Different approaches: While Russell, who gained 27 kilograms for the role of Jackson Healy, took a less active approach, his co-star Ryan immersed himself into the stunts to a greater degree 

'Keith actually broke my nose, got me right on the nose with an elbow,' he said.

'Everybody heard – because they're all wearing headphones – and they're freaking out because it's the middle of the night in a party sequence and there are 250 extras. 

Russell's confessions come after he recently spoke to WENN about the numerous bumps and breaks he's suffered during his 25-year career.  

'The older I get the less that's just physically possible,' confessed the Oscar-winning actor, before saying he was warned by other professionals of the perils of stunt work.

'I remember when I was a young fella doing all of my stunts and the occasional older actor would go, 'Why are you doing it? Why don't you let the stunt guys do it?' 

Committed: The Gladiator star (pictured) previously revealed that almost every scar on his body comes from shooting a film as he told WENN about the numerous bumps and breaks he's suffered during his career

Committed: The Gladiator star (pictured) previously revealed that almost every scar on his body comes from shooting a film as he told WENN about the numerous bumps and breaks he's suffered during his career

'Now that I'm an older guy, I'm like, that was a piece of kindness and wisdom that had just missed me at the time, because you do start stacking this up,' he added.

'I've got this embarrassing thing where I've got one scar on my body that is from something other than a film set,' said The Water Diviner star. 'Every other scar is about being on a film set.'

And, listing his aches, pains and broken bones dating back to the late-90s, he began: 'I've got no cartilage in my toes anymore; that's from doing a whole bunch of lateral stops. 

'I've got grade-four tears in both Achilles tendons. I've got shin splints. I've got bone marrow edemas under both knees. I've got one disintegrating hip.

'I've got a rib in my upper thoracic that pops off my spine, which is a very pleasant morning if that ever happens! I've had two operations on my left shoulder.

'This stuff comes from committing to the job and giving myself over to the job,' he concluded. 

'I’ve got one disintegrating hip': The 52-year-old previously revealed his hip injury dates back to a fall on-set of Gladiator, a role which he eventually won him the Oscar for Best Actor

'I've got one disintegrating hip': The 52-year-old previously revealed his hip injury dates back to a fall on-set of Gladiator, a role which he eventually won him the Oscar for Best Actor

Pulling no punches: The New Zealand-born actor suffered a shoulder injury while filming boxing drama Cinderella Man, which was released in 2005

Pulling no punches: The New Zealand-born actor suffered a shoulder injury while filming boxing drama Cinderella Man, which was released in 2005

  

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