Oscar nominee Crowe struggled with maths role

Russell Crowe says his performance as a brilliant mathematician in A Beautiful Mind, which won him an Academy Award nomination today, truly taxed his acting abilities.

‘‘Mathematics and I parted company when I was about 14,’’ Crowe joked after a showing of the film at the Berlin’s International Film Festival.

The 37-year-old New Zealand-born actor, who won last year’s best actor Oscar for his performance in Gladiator, added that he never regretted ignoring his maths teacher during lessons.

Crowe, appearing a news conference with A Beautiful Mind director Ron Howard, co-star Jennifer Connelly, and screenplay writer Akiva Goldsman, said he felt gratified that the film had received eight Oscar nominations including best picture.

‘‘It’s very special when the Academy recognises something you believe in and something you’ve invested so much in,’’ Crowe said.

The film dramatizes Nobel-prize winning mathematician John Nash’s decades-long struggle with schizophrenia, and director Ron Howard called his nomination for best director ‘‘a very broad, wonderful acknowledgment of a movie that I care about a lot’’.

Almost immediately after hearing that he had been nominated, however, Howard said his thoughts turned to people considered likely award candidates who ‘‘didn’t get their names called’’.

‘‘I’ve experienced that,’’ he said. ‘‘And that’s not such a wonderful moment.’’

Crowe also said he enjoyed the lighter sides of making the film, which has been nominated for best picture.

‘‘I had a wonderful time being married to Jennifer for 50 years,’’ Crowe quipped about his co-star. ‘‘I wish it could have continued, but you know, the movies aren’t as good as real life.’’

Crowe’s nomination for best actor is his third in a row after Gladiator and The Insider the year before. If he wins this year, he would be the first actor since Tom Hanks to take home back-to-back Oscars.

Connelly was nominated for best supporting actress, and Goldsman for best screenplay based on previously published material. A Beautiful Mind was also nominated for best editing, make-up and original score.