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Russell Crowe isn’t tap dancing around the truth.
Robert Irwin revealed that the Oscar winner gives him notes following his “Dancing With the Stars” performances each week.
“I’m incredibly grateful for his support on this dancing journey. It’s actually been really cool because Russell will message after a performance,” the zooologist, 21, told Access Hollywood about Crowe, who is a longtime family friend of the Irwins.
“And instead of just saying, ‘Oh great dance,’ he’ll really delve into the detail of, ‘Okay these steps were great, love the lines, love the clarity in the storytelling.'”
“To really get that very in-depth feedback is amazing, and it really means a lot,” Irwin added.
That type of response pushes the young star to keep going.
“I’m not a dancer, I’m trying to tell my story through dance. I’m trying to spread my message of positivity and passion and enthusiasm through dance, and Russell being there to support that is fantastic.”
It’s no surprise that the “Gladiator” star, 61, is such a staunch supporter of Irwin’s.
“Russell has been someone in our lives who has really always been there for us,” gushed the wildlife photographer. “He was a great mate of my dad’s and through thick and thin he’s always been there. He’s an incredible human being and someone that is certainly an inspiration to me and someone I’ve looked up to for a long time.”
The Australian native also touched on the impact of joining the ABC competition show alongside partner Witney Carson.
“If there is one thing this ‘Dancing With the Stars’ journey has taught me it’s that I never thought I could rock a rhinestone or the sequins,” Irwin explained. “It’s so funny because my day job, I’m covered in mud in my uniform, I’m covered in crocodiles it’s so completely different but I never thought I could spread my message as a wildlife conservationist through dance.”
“But here we are,” he added. “It’s amazing.”
Irwin, however, isn’t holding out hope his pal Crowe would try his hand at dancing for the mirrorball.
“I don’t know. The world of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ it is crazy,” he said. “But what’s cool about it is it’s this family vibe. My sister [Bindi Irwin], I never would have thought in a million years she would have done ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and she did when she was 17 years old.”
Bindi, now 27, won Season 21 of the show alongside partner Derek Hough.
Soon after, it became a dream of Robert’s.
“Everyone was egging me on, ‘Oh you’ve got to do it.’ It became this little childhood dream. To return back a decade later. And it’s this family 10 years later, embracing me. You never know who’s going to be in the studio. It brings together people of every different walk of life,” he shared. “It’s so cool.”
Robert’s mom, Terri Irwin — who was married to Steve Irwin from 1992 until his death in 2006 — couldn’t be prouder of their son.
“He’s incredible,” the 61-year-old detailed. “I am very blessed to be his mother and I think he’s doing such a fantastic job because he has that wonderful work ethic and that real passion for life. That real desire to live everyday to its fullest and I think I really admire that about Robert.”
Off the dance floor, Robert recently starred in ads for the men’s underwear company, Bonds. Another milestone he never thought would be possible.
“Oh my gosh,” he exclaimed to The Post after week two of the show. “You know what? Doing an underwear commercial and being on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ was not on my bingo card, but honestly, here we are. I feel like I’m just embracing all the side quests. But this project in particular feels like 10 years in the making.”
Throughout all his recent adventures, taking the stage in front of America has been a highlight.
“Out of everything I’ve done, whether it’s being in my undies, catching crocodiles, whatever it is, this is honestly probably the greatest experience of my whole life, and I’m just so grateful to be here,” Irwin continued. “And it hasn’t sunk in yet, I’m still just like, ‘What the heck am I doing? This is insane.’”
English (US)