After four decades and an extensive list of credits to his name, might be ready to take a bow and step back from acting.
At 59 years old, Russell is looking to the future of his career and believes he has two choices – one of which is to disappear from public life entirely.
While attending the 57th in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, the actor dropped the bombshell.
‘You are standing in front of the mirror, and go: ”Who the f**k is that?” I am in that period now,’ he told journalists at the film festival, according to .
Russell attended the festival with girlfriend Britney Theriot, 31, who he made with late last year.
It seems the loved-up actor is looking to settle down and has retirement on his mind, although maybe not quite yet.
Russell cited 85-year-old director Sir Ridley Scott, who he has worked with multiple times, as an inspiration for his career.
‘I will take Ridley Scott as my role model: he is still discovering new things in his work. Or I will just stop and you will never hear from me again,’ he said.
‘I haven’t decided what it’s going to be. These are two very valid choices.’
The star also joked he didn’t want to beanymore, especially as he’s not even in the sequel.
Sir Ridley is back to direct Gladiator 2 but this time will take the lead role, with no return for a ‘.
The director and actor have worked together on five films over the years, including 2000’s Gladiator which skyrocketed the New Zealand-born actor’s career.
Russell won an Oscar for his role as Maximus in the epic and has gone on to win two Golden Globes, a Bafta Film Award and earned himself a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He has worked with the likes of Cate Blanchett, Denzel Washington, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Anne Hathaway, Sharon Stone and many more esteemed actors.
Fans of the Les Miserables actor need not panic yet though as Russell is set to appear in Aaron Taylor-Johnson-led film later this year.
This will be his second Marvel comics adaptation, having played Zeus in Taika Watiti’s Thor: Love and Thunder and his third superhero adaptation after appearing as Jor-El in Man of Steel.
He will also star in horror thriller The Georgetown Projects, which is in post-production, and Sleeping Dogs alongside Guardian of the Galaxy, Karen Gillan.
Russell has also been touring with his music-treating fans in Sydney on Saturday as part of his Indoor Garden Party Tour, with Britney singing backup vocals.
The couple became official in November 2020 with a kiss at the tennis court and have been inseparable since.
