Russell Crowe reveals he only spent '30 days' with his sons the same year he split with his wife Danielle Spencer because they weren't allowed to travel to movie sets

For Russell Crowe 2012 was a difficult year.

The 52-year-old revealed in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, published on Thursday, following the end of his nine-year marriage to Danielle Spencer that year, he kept busy with four back-to-back films.

However, this meant the actor didn't get to see his sons - Charlie and Tennyson - most of the year, admitting: 'I think I saw my children 30 days in the year because they are not allowed to travel to where I'm working at this point'.

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'That was a tough year': Russell Crowe has opened up about the difficult year which saw him only get to spend '30 days' with his children in one calendar year as he worked on four films back-to-back

'That was a tough year': Russell Crowe has opened up about the difficult year which saw him only get to spend '30 days' with his children in one calendar year as he worked on four films back-to-back

'So that was a tough year,' he told the publication while in Cannes.

However, he went on to note that he is happy with the arrangement he and his estranged wife have come to, saying: 'The home environment we have created around them is very stable, so I can go to work, but it does get more and more difficult to get on a plane.'

This resulted in the Gladiator star later taking a year off from acting following The Water Diviner, to spend time with his boys, now 12 and nine.

'I got home in May [2015] and then I've basically taken a year off, just taking the kids to sport and being dad, which has been fantastic,' he said.

'Just...being a dad': The father-of-two took a year off from acting following The Water Diviner in 2015, to spend time with his sons - Charlie,  12, and Tennyson, nine - whom he shares with estranged wife Danielle Spencer

'Just...being a dad': The father-of-two took a year off from acting following The Water Diviner in 2015, to spend time with his sons - Charlie, 12, and Tennyson, nine - whom he shares with estranged wife Danielle Spencer

Family time: The 52-year-old actor confessed taking on movie roles is a difficult decision because it takes him away from his family

Family time: The 52-year-old actor confessed taking on movie roles is a difficult decision because it takes him away from his family

The South Sydney Rabbitohs club owner also recently revealed he regrets doing his own stunts during his younger years, after sustaining a series of nasty on-set injuries - including tears in both Achilles tendons and 'a disintegrating hip'.

The Gladiator star revealed that almost every scar on his body comes from shooting a film, telling WENN about the numerous bumps and breaks he's suffered during his 25-year career.

Russell also confessed he deliberately scaled back the stunt work for his latest project The Nice Guys amid fears he won't be able to bounce back as quickly from an injury at 52 years of age.

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

No more stunts: The football club owner says he regrets doing his own stunts during his younger years after sustaining a series of nasty on-set injuries

No more stunts: The football club owner says he regrets doing his own stunts during his younger years after sustaining a series of nasty on-set injuries

Bad injuries: The Hollywood actor admitted his injuries extended from grade-four tears in both Achilles tendons to, shin splints, bone marrow edemas under both knees and a disintegrating hip

Bad injuries: The Hollywood actor admitted his injuries extended from grade-four tears in both Achilles tendons to, shin splints, bone marrow edemas under both knees and a disintegrating hip

'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?"

'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 he began: 'I’ve got no cartilage in my toes anymore; that’s from doing a whole bunch of lateral stops.

For the love of the job: The 52-year-old also revealed he has had two operations on his shoulder and a rib in his upper thoracic that pops off his spine 

For the love of the job: The 52-year-old also revealed he has had two operations on his shoulder and a rib in his upper thoracic that pops off his spine 

'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.

Russel's newest movie includes a lead role in the black comedy, The Nice Guys, alongside heartthrob Ryan Gosling. 

The New Zealand born actor gained over 27 kilograms to play the role of bumbling '70s enforcer Jackson Healy. 

New role: Russell's latest role is alongside Ryan Gosling (left) in The Nice Guys

New role: Russell's latest role is alongside Ryan Gosling (left) in The Nice Guys

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