Hunk to chunk: Gladiator star Russell Crowe piles on the pounds

But as he stepped out in his hometown of Sydney yesterday, it was astonishingly clear his heartthrob status is now just a distant memory.

The Oscar-winning actor was almost unrecognisable as he took a walk near his seaside home, his scruffy appearance, hefty paunch and ghastly tracksuit a world away from his turn as Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 hit.

Heartthrob no more: Russell Crowe in his hometown of Sydney yesterday

His grooming regime and once vigorous exercise programme has clearly taken a slide in recent times, and his regard for fashion has apparently dipped to an all-time low.

But while his transformation may have meant some Hollywood offers have dried up, he still has a string of projects in the pipeline.

This year he stepped into the lead role of State Of Play, based on the BBC mini series by the same name, after Brad Pitt pulled out the film.

Remember when: Russell in the 2000 hit Gladiator

He is also rumoured to be attached to a new biopic of late comedy legend Bill Hicks, who fell victim to cancer at the age of 32 after years of battling with drink and drugs.

Hicks shot to fame in the 80s and early 90s for his acerbic wit and is considered a highly influential figure.

Writer Mark Staufer has already written a treatment for a possible film, and is now turning that into a draft script, reports Empire.