KEY POINTS:
Russell Crowe's next starring role will not be a Hollywood blockbuster, but a British TV documentary about tracing his family tree back to Wales.
The BBC has confirmed the New Zealand-born, Australian-based actor has agreed to film an episode for the popular Coming Home series.
Crowe is expected to visit the town of Wrexham, where his grandfather John owned a fresh fruit and vegetable store about 80 years ago.
"We can confirm that we have commissioned a special Coming Home documentary about Russell Crowe retracing his family roots to Wales," a BBC spokeswoman said.
"Plans for filming are already under way and everyone involved is very excited about working with yet another international star for Coming Home."
Crowe follows in the footsteps of Australian star Rolf Harris and Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, who both have Welsh ancestors and filmed episodes for the TV series.
Wrexham local Hilary Betts uncovered what she believed were Crowe's links with Wales six years ago while she was researching her own family history and found they could be related.
The Gladiator star's Welsh heritage is believed to stretch back to his great-grandparents Fred and Kezia.
The couple packed up their home in Wrexham and moved with 12 of their 13 children to Calgary, Canada, in June 1925
Their 18-year-old son John, a keen sportsman, stayed behind and set up his own fruit and veg business called Crofruit.
Researchers have discovered that John's older brother Frank moved back to Wrexham from Canada in 1927 and took over the business, got married and had four children.
John ended up moving to New Zealand, where he also married and had two sons, David and Alex, Russell's father.
Alex's wife Jocelyn gave birth to Russell in Wellington in April 1964.
The 44-year-old actor is believed to have several second cousins still living in Wrexham and others in the northwestern English county of Cheshire.
- AAP
