Russell Crowe takes on one of his darkest characters to date

Most actors wouldn't be willing to take on a role like Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring - but Russell Crowe isn't most actors.

In his upcoming film, Nuremberg, Crowe takes on one of his darkest characters to date.

From his Academy Award-winning performance as Maximus in Gladiator, or his Golden Globe-winning turn as mathematician John Nash in A Beautiful Mind, there has been no shortage of iconic characters for Crowe.

But for the world-famous actor, there's a reluctance to being such an "in-demand" star.

"I'm living the thing that I put into the universe when I was a kid," he told 60 Minutes.

"Unfortunately, these things … are not as good as I might've thought when I was 14 or 15."

The biggest downside to fame, if you ask Crowe, is the constant chatter about his private life.

A proud father of two boys, the 61-year-old has now divorced from actress and musician Danielle Spencer.

These days, 42-year-old Britney Theriot is often seen by his side.

But, for the gossip columnists salivating over the possibility of wedding snaps, there's going to be disappointment. 

"My life is so joyous and happy at the moment … why would I ruin that with a wedding?" Crowe said.

"I'm not going to get married again. Doing it once is cool, great, but I don't want to do it again."

It's fair enough that a wedding is the last thing on Crowe's mind at the moment, with his portrayal of Göring so well received so far that there's speculation it's Oscar-worthy.

But, surprisingly, talk of this possible success means talk of another complicated Crowe relationship - his place in the superficiality of the Hollywood machine. 

"When they start picking you out and going, 'You're the best one', you know, 'Here, have this little piece of gold', then it starts getting kind of silly," he told 60 Minutes.

"It creates like resentment … you know, jealousy or whatever and then also sort of like an unreasonable level of expectation."

"All of that stuff … tends to change the way a movie's discussed and viewed. So I'd rather people just see this cleanly and clearly and not worry about that sort of stuff."

Despite all of his achievements, Crowe is acutely aware that even the brightest stars fade. But it's not quite time to yell "cut".

"There will be a moment … I'm absolutely certain … I would find it very difficult to not be doing it," he said.

"It's more of a calling than a job, you know."

Watch the full episode of 60 Minutes on 9Now.