GLADIATOR (2000) star RUSSELL CROWE only accepted a part in Australian soap NEIGHBOURS years ago so he could work with KYLIE MINOGUE. The OSCAR-winner admits he would never have entertained the thought of acting in the daytime soap if it hadn't been for the pop princess.

He says, "I was reading the script and thinking, 'This is awful!' But when I saw that I had to break up a fight, while Kylie Minogue is riding on my back strangling me, I thought, 'I'll do it!'" (KMW/H/MCM)

Source: WENN