Washington DC, June 30 -- Actor and film director Russell Crowe made a surprise appearance at the Mediterrane Film Festival's Golden Bee Awards, returning to the island where he shot "Gladiator" more than two decades ago, reported Variety.

"If you want to know what I love about Malta, it's everything," said Crowe, who was given the Malta Film Legend Award. "26 years ago, in a funny way, I became a man in Malta," he said, "For whatever films I had done before then, nothing had the majesty, ambition and budget and ultimately reach of 'Gladiator.' It wasn't an easy production. I had to fight every day for the integrity of the character I was playing, just like the journey of the character himself in the movie. And sometimes, you get lucky e...