London (ANI): Hollywood actor Russell Crowe has shed pounds to look fitter for the role of Robin Hood in Ridley Scott"s forthcoming flick. According to sources, Crowe is looking much slimmer and has shed a lot of fat.

“Russell has been hitting the gym and looks his best in years," The Daily Express quoted a source, as saying. “His hair is also cropped short. The film is physically demanding, so he had to get in shape," the source added.

Though it was not easy for Crowe to shed so much weight in such a short span of time, he slogged and eventually attained the preferred look, the insider added. “Russell knew what level he had to go to fitness-wise. It wasn"t as easy this time as he"s almost a decade older than when he appeared in Gladiator. But he pulled it off," the source said.