DANIELLE SPENCER’S FAMILY HAS CONFIRMED SHE IS PREGNANT

Actor Russell Crowe will be a father before his 40th birthday next April, as promised by wife Danielle Spencer on their wedding day.

When the 32-year-old singer exchanged vows with the actor at his lavish property at Nana Glen, NSW, three months ago, she said she’d make him a dad before his 39th year was out.

Naturally, when Danielle – who is yet to show any outwards signs of pregnancy (see right) – found out she’s expecting, she got straight on the telephone to her family in Yorkshire, England, to tell them the happy news.

Danielle’s uncle, Peter Horsfall, admitted to the UK magazine Closer that everyone is thrilled at the prospect of a baby – especially her ailing grandparents.

“It’s great news,” Peter says. “Danielle’s grandparents are not very well at the moment so we hope the baby news will cheer them up a bit. We are all very happy for them both.”

Peter, 60, explains that both mother and baby are doing well, but was unable to disclose the sex of the unborn child.

“We don’t know if Danielle is having a boy or a girl but I don’t think anyone is being choosy,” he told the magazine.

Despite Russell’s reputation as a wild man, Danielle’s family has given the burly A Beautiful Mind star and Oscar winner the thumbs-up as a parent.

“Russell is a great bloke and I’m sure he just wants the best for his wife and their unborn child. He’s the kind of bloke you would want to go for a pint with, so I reckon he will make a good father,” says Peter.
But while Danielle’s family have been prepared to speak to the media, other sources close to the couple are still staying mum. “We are not confirming the pregnancy rumours,” says Russell’s publicist Wendy Day.

Perhaps symbolic that kids were on his mind last week, Russell, joined by a glowing Danielle, launched a project particularly close to his heart – the Australian Children’s Music Foundation.

Father-in-law Don Spencer, a former Play School host, is the brains behind the venture, which has seen a 24-hour radio station devoted to children’s music set up. As one of its patrons, Russell has already donated funds to the Sydney-based foundation.

And as his thoughts turn to his wife’s condition, he will no doubt be aware it comes at a busy time for the couple.

Russell and his band 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts are due to embark on their first regional tour of Australia in two years, starting at a music festival in Alice Springs on July 11.

Meanwhile, not willing to simply ride on Russell’s fame and fortune, Danielle has been busy forging her own career as a singer and has a new record under way.

She released her debut album White Monkey in 2001 and recently performed at several high-profile gigs in Melbourne.

It’s still not clear at this stage what changes, if any, Danielle will now make to her career plans. But she’ll no doubt be lecturing Russ – once again – to stop boozing and start being on his best behaviour.

The father-to-be will definitely need all the sleep he can get before his newborn child arrives!

Thanks to Jayem