According to news.com.au Russell Crowe will host next Wednesday night’s Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards in Australia as well as the AACTA International Awards event in Los Angeles on Saturday. Excerpt:
The acclaimed Aussie actor has filled the breach after the shock exit of original host Hugh Sheridan yesterday. Crowe’s signing is a relief for Channel 10 which is televising the AACTAs (formerly the AFIs) for the first time.
“I’m equally honoured to represent the Australian industry in LA as host of AACTA’s International Awards as I am to return home to celebrate the success of my peers at the 2nd AACTA Awards Ceremony in Sydney,” Crowe says.
It is dejavu for Crowe who hosted the 2005 AFI Awards ceremony which was televised by Channel 9. “The ceremony will be entertaining and fast paced, whilst honouring the fantastic film and television our nation is producing,” Crowe says.
Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett will be presenters at this year’s awards. Stars including Rove McManus, Rebecca Gibney, Hugo Weaving and Deborah Mailman will attend.
Crowe is currently starring alongside Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway in Oscar favourite Les Miserables.
“We are delighted Russell will be returning to Sydney especially to host the AACTA Awards,” Ten Program chief Beverly McGarvey says. “We have no doubt he will captivate both his audience in the room and those watching on television.”
The AACTA Awards will screen on Ten on Wednesday, January 30, at 9.30pm.
