As Russell Crowe is a veteran in the movie business, his viewpoint is definitely worth a listen when it comes to Hollywood - especially his colleagues. The Aussi star recently took aim at his female counterparts, claiming they should act their age on and off screen.

Russell Crowe
Crowe says actresses need to act their age on and off screen

While being interviewed by Australia's Women's Weekly, Crow was explaining that the "best thing" about being in the film industry is that "there are roles for people in all different stages of life," but he feels some women don't want to accept this.

"To be honest, I think you'll find that the woman who is saying that [the good roles for women have dried up is] the woman who at 40, 45, 48, still wants to play the ingénue, and can't understand why she's not being cast as the 21-year-old," he told the magazine.

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Crowe went on to namedrop a few elite female stars, such as Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren, who don't struggle to find work because they are willing to play characters suited to their age. "Meryl Streep will give you 10,000 examples and arguments as to why that's bulls--t, so will Helen Mirren, or whoever it happens to be," he said. "If you are willing to live in your own skin, you can work as an actor. If you are trying to pretend that you're still the young buck when you're my age, it just doesn't work."

The Oscar-winner also recalled some ridiculous demands form an unnamed actress, who should have simply acted her age. "I have heard of an actress, part of her fee negotiation was getting the number of children she was supposed to have lessened. Can you believe this? This [character] was a woman with four children, and there were reasons why she had to have four children-mainly, she lived in a cold climate and there was nothing to do but fornicate all day-so quit arguing, just play the role!"

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Nobody wants to age, but even Crowe confessed he will not be the heroic figure he is usually associated as. "The point is, you do have to be prepared to accept that there are stages in life. So I can't be the Gladiator forever," he said.