HUGH JACKMAN

Date of Birth
12 October 1968, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Birth Name
Hugh Michael Jackman

Height
6' 2½" (1.89 m)

Mini Biography
Born in Sydney of English parentage, and the youngest of five children, Jackman has a communications degree with a journalism major from the University of Technology Sydney. After graduating, he pursued drama at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, immediately after which he was offered a starring role in the ABC-TV prison drama "Correlli" (1995), opposite his future wife Deborra-Lee Furness. Several TV guest roles followed, as an actor and variety compere. An accomplished singer, Jackman has starred as Gaston in the Australian production of "Beauty and the Beast." He appeared as Joe Gillis in the Australian production of "Sunset Boulevard." In 1998, he was cast as Curly in the Royal National Theatre's production of Trevor Nunn's Oklahoma. Jackman has made two feature films, the second of which, Erskineville Kings (1999), garnered him an Australian Film Institute nomination for Best Actor in 1999. Recently, he won the part of Logan/Wolverine in the Bryan Singer- directed comic-book movie X-Men (2000). In his spare time, Jackman plays piano, golf, and guitar, and likes to windsurf.

Spouse
Deborra-Lee Furness (11 April 1996 - present) 2 children

Trade Mark
Ruggedly handsome features


Trivia
For Sunset Boulevard (as Joe Gillis), he won a Variety Club, a Mo and a Green Room Award as best male actor in a musical. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in 1998 as Curly in the Royal National Theatre's Oklahoma!.

Adopted a son, Oscar Maximillian Jackman, in May 2000 (b. 15 May 2000).

Met his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, while co-starring in the Australian TV series "Correlli" (1995).

Chosen as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" 5 years in a row, 2000-2004.

He was one of the presenters at the 2002 Academy Awards, but says he'll think twice about attending again. He says, "I slept for about an hour and I'd have liked a little bit of sushi to come down. There'll be a lot of drunken parties back home and people betting and that's usually what I'm at, so getting up there in a suit and talking for a little bit is kind of bizarre."

He sang "People Will Say We're in Love" from "Oklahoma!" with Shirley Jones, when they reprised their respective roles of Curly and Laurie, at the opening of Fox Studios in Sydney.

He was a last-minute addition to the X-Men (2000) cast. Dougray Scott was originally cast as Wolverine, but Mission: Impossible II (2000) required two extra months of shooting.

According to the comic books, Wolverine stands 5-feet-3-inches in height. Jackman, who plays Wolverine, stands a whole foot taller than his character.

Has starred in four movies with Halle Berry: X-Men (2000), Swordfish (2001), X2 (2003), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).

He was nominated for a 1999 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for the 1998 season for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in "Oklahoma.".

Was offered the role of "Captain William Gordon" in The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005).

While filming Van Helsing (2004), he accidentally broke an extra's hand.

Voted one of "The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine [2003]

Named Best Actor in a Musical by Drama Desk in New York for his portrayal of Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz" (April 2004).

Won Broadway's 2004 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for his portrayal of Australian singer/songwriter Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz." Jackman also served as host for the televised ceremony for the American Theatre Wing's annual Antoinette Perry (aka Tony) Awards in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Before attending WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts), he did a year-long acting program called "The Journey" at the Actors Centre in Sydney.

His parents separated when he was 8. His mother then moved to England, leaving his father to raise him and his four siblings by himself in Australia.

In the X-Men movies, he plays Wolverine; in Van Helsing (2004), he goes after a monster called The Wolfman.

He is terribly near-sighted and has extremely blurry vision when he isn't wearing contacts. Even when hosting the Tonys and "Saturday Night Live" (1975), Jackman memorized almost everything he had to say so he wouldn't have to struggle to read.

Once said in an interview with Jay Leno that he is a fan of the "Friday The 13th" film series, and he became an actor because he wanted to play Jason in one.

Due to his committment to Van Helsing (2004), had to decline the offer to play Frank Castle in The Punisher (2004). Both films ended up receiving a "BOMB" rating from film critic Leonard Maltin.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2005 Razzie Award nominating ballot. He was listed as a suggestion in the Worst Actor category for his performance in the film Van Helsing (2004). However, he did not receive a nomination.

Expressed great fondness for the comic book character Superman. Ironically, Superman is owned by DC Comics, the rival company of Marvel Comics, which owns X-Men and Wolverine.

He admitted after X-Men (2000) that it was difficult to summon up the rage and darkness necessary for the character of Logan/Wolverine and it took weeks of work with Bryan Singer to find the right tone for the character. After that, however, it was relatively easy for him to play the angry character.

Has started his own movie-production company, Seed Productions, with his friend John Palermo. The first films they will be producing with this company are X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and the Wolverine spin-off.

Adopted a girl, Ava Eliot Jackman (b. July 10, 2005), in July 2005.

Was school captain during his final year of high school, a school also attended by Australian actors Adam Garcia, Andrew Johnston, Reg Livermore, and Hugo Weaving; writer Stuart Beattie; and radio host John Laws.

His two children have playtime sessions with Rupert Murdoch's younger children in New York.

Had to take stunt-driving classes to prepare for his role in Swordfish (2001).

His stunt double for Van Helsing (2004) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) was Richard Bradshaw, his brother-in-law (sister's husband).

He had never seen an episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) until he agreed to host the show. The producers sent him tapes of episodes so he could understand the format of the show. He later said that his favorite was the one hosted by Conan O'Brien.

Often his wife and, sometimes, members of his family stay with him while he is shooting on location.

His mother abandoned the family when he was 8 and moved back to England. His father, an accountant, brought up five children himself. The first 18 months of Hugh's life were spent with his godparents.

Doesn't smoke in real life. He says he finds it horrible to smoke in movies.

Was among the guests at the wedding of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.

Wants to produce and star in a film based on the life of "The Incredible Hulk" (1978) actor Bill Bixby.

Frequently gets offered roles based on comic books. He was offered The Punisher (2004), Daredevil (2003), Hulk (2003), Iron Man (2008), Mr. Fantastic in Fantastic Four (2005), and Jonathan Kent in Superman Returns (2006).

He and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, suffered through two miscarriages, which they point to as the most difficult point in their lives. Both of their children are adopted.

Upon meeting Olivia Newton-John (John Travolta introduced the two while he and Jackman were filming Swordfish (2001)), he confessed to her that under his desk in elementary school, there was a poster with Newton-John on it, and he would kiss the poster every day.

Has two older brothers, Ian and Ralph, and two older sisters, Sonya and Zoe. Also has a half-sister from his mother's side of the family.

Had to shave off all of the hair on his head and chest for scenes in the last third of the movie The Fountain (2006).

Was considered for the role of Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Dark Knight (2008). The part went to Aaron Eckhart, instead.

People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2008.

Hugh was cast straight out of drama school playing Kevin Jones in a 10-part drama series aired on Australia's ABC called "Correlli" (1995), which was the original creation of actress Denise Roberts, who is also the principal director and CEO of Screenwise, Australia's leading film & TV school for actors in Sydney, Australia.

One of his lifelong goals is to play Pharaoh in either a Broadway production or a West End London theatre production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.".

Vacationed with his family in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, staying at the world-famous Copacabana Palace Hotel. [January 2010]

Lives in New York City, New York.

Close friend of Liev Schreiber.

His life goal as a young man was to be a international freelance journalist. He got a degree in journalism before turning to acting.

He undergoes intense physical training each time he's played Wolverine. When in peak physical condition, he can bench press well more than 300 pounds.

As of 2011, he holds the record for playing the same comic book character (Marvel Comics' "Wolverine") more times than any other actor, in this case, 5 films. Prior to that, the record was held by Christopher Reeve, who played DC Comics' "Superman" in 4 films.

Was presented the 2,487th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame accompanied by his wife and two children, as well as his Les Misérables (2012) director Tom Hooper and co-stars Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried (December 13, 2012).


Personal Quotes
On turning down the chance to play Richard Gere's character in the Harvey Weinstein-produced film Chicago (2002): I thought I was too young for the role. You have some 34-year-old guy up against Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger and it becomes a different movie. At one point, Harvey was telling me they were thinking of Kevin Spacey, and Ivtold him, 'That's exactly right. You should hire him.' Then I was in New York when the movie opened and the queue was around the block. I sat down and thought that I had probably made the biggest mistake. But I still honestly think that it was the right thing to do. I still think I was too young for that part.

Finally something my family can be proud of.

Now I meet people with full-color Wolverine tattoos on their backs. Thank God I did okay, because I think if I handn't, they'd spit on me in the street. - on his role of Wolverine.

There is something very secretive about the way they cast that role. I've never had an official call asking: 'Are you interested or not?' but there's no guy I know who wouldn't want that role -- and that includes me. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. [on the now (Nov. 2004) opened spot for the next James Bond]

[on comic books] I never read comics as a kid, and when I was slipped the comics under my trailer door, Bryan Singer didn't want us to read them. He was very frightened that we would come out with these 2-D characters, and I was amazed at how helpful they were, the images more than the story. The images, and how they capture emotion or an action sequence in just, say, three images. I have to say I used them as inspiration for some of the fighting stances or techniques. The way Wolverine stands and how he looks.

[on Wolverine video game] I didn't do the motion-capture work; I didn't do any of that. I don't know if they've used my voice or not, they probably have.. I did a lot of recordings on the first movie for dolls and video games, so they probably just used the same stuff.

[on his action figure] People can stick pins in it, put in the freezer. It's far more dangerous than a video game.

[on playing Wolverine] The character I play is actually only 1.6 meters [5' 3"]. Before I had any kind of acting profile I was encouraged to lie about my height. I was told to say I was about six foot [1.83 meters] tall. I was worried about it when I first had my audition because pleasing fans of the franchise is important. My height was brought up on the Internet. They didn't think it was right. A lot of people who never met me think I'm very short. James Marsden (Cyclops), who's only 10 centimeters [4 inches] shorter than me, was put on boxes and platforms in our scenes together. You'll notice that every character in X-Men (2000) looks taller than me.

I've always felt that if you back down from a fear, the ghost of that fear never goes away. It diminishes people. So I've always said yes to the thing I'm most scared about. The fear of letting myself down -- of saying no to something that I was afraid of and then sitting in my room later going, 'I wish I'd had the guts to say this or that' -- that galvanizes me more than anything.

Acting is something I love. It's a great craft that I have a lot of respect for. But I don't think it's any greater challenge than teaching 8-year-olds or any other career. In my life, I try not to make it more important than it is and I just hope that rubs off on the people around me.

Becoming a father, I think it inevitably changes your perspective of life. I don't get nearly enough sleep. And the simplest things in life are completely satisfying. I find you don't have to do as much, like you don't go on as many outings.

I have shocking teeth. . . . I'm being a little facetious - I just went to the dentist the other day, and he looked at my teeth and went, "Oh, my God, you've got gray teeth."

Joking about being selected 'most sexiest man' as People Magazine's annual choice, 2008: I think we ran a very strong campaign and I'm not proud of it -- I can admit it now. We're the first ones to run a negative campaign and we spent years bringing Clooney, Pitt, Damon, and McConaughey down to size. I was prepared to do absolutely anything.

[on his 8-year-old adopted son Oscar] He said to me the other day, 'Dad, two o'clock, hot chick.' He walks over, and I heard him say, 'Hey, my dad's Wolverine.' That's his opening line! He brings them over and asks, 'Dad, can we have a few autographs for the girls?' I'm like, 'Am I pimping for my kids?'

If ever there was any doubt about whether or not people wanted their comic book heroes dark and vulnerable, I think X-Men (2000) started this idea, and The Dark Knight (2008) last year really confirmed it. Audiences want to see that, they want to see the superhero's frailties, their doubts, and their battles.

My idol was Olivia Newton-John...I had her poster and I would kiss it every day. I met her and told her that...and she was like, "Great".

[on his father] He never took ones day off in his life. He had five kids he was bringing up on his own. If any one deserved a day off it was my old man, but he never did. I learned that from him.

When I came out of drama school I was like, 'I'm going to do anything I can just to keep working'. In drama school you do Shakespeare to movement to circus skills to singing all in one morning. I know a lot of people hated it but I reveled in it. I loved it. It's weird how it evolved.

I can look back on my life, where there have been moments where things might have gone the other way. Everything is like stepping stones, and I've seen people I admire falter. We're all vulnerable.

I was at a Warner Bros. event and all the stars were lining up backstage. Sylvester Stallone was in front of me and [Clint Eastwood] was behind me and we were all embarrassingly close. I turned around before the line went off and said: 'Good day Mr. Eastwood, Hugh Jackman.' Clint replied: 'Yeah I know.' I continued: 'By the way, I know we've gotta go but I've been told I occasionally look like you in films.' Clint replied: 'You're holding up the line kid.' I'll never forget it. I went on stage bright red and never looked at him again. Clint has never asked me to be in any of his movies or have an audition.

(on Father's Day gifts) The best is a hand written card. I don't know where some of my awards are, but I can tell you exactly where those cards are. I treasure them most.

[on the look he wanted for X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)] I had this image in my head of De Niro in that remake of Cape Fear (1991). You were terrified of that character from the moment he took his shirt off and you saw all the tats; you know he was this coiled spring that would rip your head off, no matter how nonchalant he acted. That's who Wolverine is.

The things that I really cherish are the everyday moments, like sitting around cooking pancakes together on Sunday morning, or getting home after a tough day and my kids come up and give me a hug and remind me what's really important.


Salary
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) $20,000,000
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011) $1,500,000
Butter (2011) $2,000,000
Real Steel (2011) $9,000,000

Where Are They Now
(August 2003) New York City, in rehearsal for the Broadway stage show "The Boy From Oz".

(October 2003) The Boy from Oz opened on Broadway, October 16, 2003, at the Imperial Theatre.

(August 2005) Filming X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) in Victoria, British Columbia

(May 2009) in São Paulo, Brazil, promoting X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).

(October 2009) In New York City performing "A Steady Rain", a 2-man dramatic play, opposite Daniel Craig (James Bond), through December 2009