Crowe's award phone joke

Film

13:30 28 November 2005

(BANG) - Russell Crowe joked about his telephone assault on a hotel worker while hosting the Australian Film Industry Awards on Saturday (26.11.05).

The feisty actor walked on to the Melbourne stage carrying an old-fashioned Bakelite telephone and quipped: "If there are any problems and you do get up here and go on too long, then 'hello' to my little friend."

A show insider said: "He kept dropping four-letter words and jokes about throwing telephones."

Crowe was given a one-year conditional discharge earlier this month after admitting to assaulting a hotel worker.

The telephone incident happened at the swanky Mercer hotel after a row broke out between the actor and the member of staff over a phone in his room - which he claimed didn't work when he tried to contact his wife Danielle Spencer.

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