Australian acting powerhouses Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman have been appointed as the president and vice president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. The Oscar-winning pair will use their new positions to nurture Australian talent, grow the AACTA internationally and promote Australian film business abroad. 

“The support of Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman has been integral to AACTA’s growth over the last decade, helping us to achieve record industry and audience growth and engagement in Australia and internationally,” AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said. 

The AACTA helped to further the actor’s careers when they won their first AACTA prizes. Crowe won his in 1987, and Kidman won hers in 1991. 

“It’s an incredible honour to be asked to serve as AACTA President,” Crowe said. “I want to refocus our politicians, of all persuasions, on the power and reach of our local screen industry. I’ll be working on encouraging the government to give Australian producers the fiscal tools they need to be globally competitive, while simultaneously fostering local talent and magnetising the industry to attract international productions.” 

Crowe most recently starred in the 2020 thriller Unhinged. He’ll also star in the upcoming thriller, The Georgetown Project, where he’ll play a troubled actor shooting a horror film who begins to fall back into past addictions. 

“I’ve always been so proud of the Australian screen industry and what it continues to achieve globally,” Kidman said. “I’m looking forward to playing a role in setting a tone and a platform for future success.” 

Kidman’s last feature-length film was the 2019 biopic, Bombshell, where she played American broadcast journalist Gretchen Carlson. She’s also currently filming Robert Eggers‘ new Viking revenge film, The Northman.