Ascoli to give citizenship to Russell Crowe

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 17 - The mayor of Ascoli in Marche said Wednesday they were waiting for Russell Crowe with open arms to grant him honorary citizenship after the Gladiator star revealed he had a great great great grandfather who emigrated from the Adriatic town to New Zealand.
    The first citizen, Marco Fioravanti, said "this honour will keep our relationship with the actor solid and will help boost our international profile".
    Crowe, 59, who was born in New Zealand and grew up in Australia, recently said he was seeking his Italian roots and had tracked the ancestor on his mother's side, Luigi Ghezzi, back to Ascoli whence he reportedly emigrated in 1864. (ANSA).