Russell is an avid guitar collector. Director George Ogilvie (The Crossing) persuaded Russell to replace the front tooth that had been kicked out in a football match when he was 10 and never replaced. "Vaucluse Public against Beverly Hills," Russell has happily recalled. The Age November 1, 1997 Russell's cousins, Martin Crowe and Jeff Crowe, are famous cricket players in New Zealand, and apart from the Chappell brothers in Australia, have played more tests together than any other brothers. Russell shares the same birthday as Jackie Chan and Posh Spice. He got his middle name from his great uncle, Ira Cunningham, the head of the Animal Health Division for New Zealand and a famous scientist in his time.