Russell Crowe’s ex-wife Danielle Spencer reveals she gave up her career to raise their children

Danielle Spencer has revealed she prioritised raising her sons over her music and acting career while her ex-husband Russell Crowe was rapidly becoming a Hollywood star.

The 51-year-old, who divorced Russell, 56, in 2018, told this week’s Stellar that she felt one parent had to stay home for their children. 

She told the magazine: ‘It was difficult because I always felt that to keep our family together both of us couldn’t be working and there came a point where I had to prioritise the kids, where they needed to be and their schooling. 

Keeping mum: Danielle Spencer (pictured) told this week’s Stellar that she prioritised raising her sons over her music and acting career while her ex-husband Russell Crowe was rapidly becoming a Hollywood star

‘Obviously Russell’s career was going gangbusters and I just felt like, ‘This is not my time.’ I absolutely love being a mother and I wouldn’t change a thing, but I didn’t feel I could prioritise my career for a while there.’

‘The kids needed a parent who was present,’ the former Home and Away actress, who lives in Sydney with her children, added. 

Danielle’s last official film or TV credit, a role in the TV series BeastMaster, was in 2000. She also appeared in a video short in 2009. 

Confession: The 51-year-old, who divorced Russell, 56, in 2018, told this week's Stellar that she felt one parent had to stay home for their children. 'The kids needed a parent who was present,' she said. Pictured in 2019

Confession: The 51-year-old, who divorced Russell, 56, in 2018, told this week’s Stellar that she felt one parent had to stay home for their children. ‘The kids needed a parent who was present,’ she said. Pictured in 2019

Danielle explained: 'Russell's career was going gangbusters and I just felt like, 'This is not my time.' I absolutely love being a mother and I wouldn't change a thing, but I didn't feel I could prioritise my career for a while there.' Pictured with their sons Charles and Tennyson in 2010

Danielle explained: ‘Russell’s career was going gangbusters and I just felt like, ‘This is not my time.’ I absolutely love being a mother and I wouldn’t change a thing, but I didn’t feel I could prioritise my career for a while there.’ Pictured with their sons Charles and Tennyson in 2010

The All Saints actress and singer last released an album, Calling All Magicians, in 2010. 

Her first album, White Monkey, had been released eight years prior, in 2002.  

Danielle goes on to tell the magazine that the couple are still friends and see one another as ‘family’ despite their split.   

Danielle says the couple are still friends and see one another as 'family' despite their split: 'The marriage ended, but that didn't mean our friendship ended. We've had holidays together in the past and we can happily sit down and chat,' she said. Pictured together in 2011

Danielle says the couple are still friends and see one another as ‘family’ despite their split: ‘The marriage ended, but that didn’t mean our friendship ended. We’ve had holidays together in the past and we can happily sit down and chat,’ she said. Pictured together in 2011

‘We have a lot of respect for each other and I consider him to be a member of my family,’ she said.   

‘The marriage ended, but that didn’t mean our friendship ended. We’ve had holidays together in the past and we can happily sit down and chat.’  

The Pacific Drive actress and the Oscar winning actor fell in love when they co-starred in The Crossing in 1989, and the couple had an on-again, off-again relationship for years.   

Back then: Danielle and the Gladiator star fell in love when they co-starred in The Crossing in 1989 and the couple had an on-again, off-again relationship for years. Pictured in 1991

Back then: Danielle and the Gladiator star fell in love when they co-starred in The Crossing in 1989 and the couple had an on-again, off-again relationship for years. Pictured in 1991

Over: The pair had a nine-year marriage, having separated in 2012 and divorced in 2018. They share two children Charles, 16, and Tennyson, 14. Pictured in 2002

Over: The pair had a nine-year marriage, having separated in 2012 and divorced in 2018. They share two children Charles, 16, and Tennyson, 14. Pictured in 2002

The pair had a nine-year marriage, having separated in 2012 and divorced in 2018. They share two children Charles, 16, and Tennyson, 14.    

Danielle is going strong with her art dealer boyfriend of four years, Adam Long, telling Stellar he is ‘a very kind, gentle soul’.   

She added they they have, ‘a very easy relationship’ and ‘a lot in common’ – but tells the magazine that she does not know if she will marry again.   

Happy: Danielle is going strong with her art dealer boyfriend of four years, Adam Long, telling Stellar he is 'a very kind, gentle soul'. Pictured together in 2016

Happy: Danielle is going strong with her art dealer boyfriend of four years, Adam Long, telling Stellar he is ‘a very kind, gentle soul’. Pictured together in 2016 

After they started dating in early 2016, a source told Daily Mail Australia that Adam was Danielle’s ‘typical arty type she goes for.’ 

‘He’s typically her, very arty, and she loves that type,’ revealed the friend at the time.

‘She’s really happy, it’s still quite early days, but she’s content. And Russell is apparently pretty cool with it. He’s accepted they’re not going to get back together.’ 

Read more: In this week's Stellar magazine

Read more: In this week’s Stellar magazine