Aussie actor Hugh Jackman puts most of Hollywood to shame. He’s acted on stages worldwide and made a name for himself as Wolverine across the globe. However, there’s more to “Hollywood’s baddest good guy” than you may know. So, let’s hear what this award-winning actor is really about, and what he gets into in his spare time.
Thanks To His Best Friend
Did you know Russell Crowe is a close and personal friend of Jackman’s? Actually, it’s all thanks to Crowe that Jackman got Wolverine. Apparently, Crowe referred him for the role, but we will get to that soon enough…
Thanks To His Best Friend
Quit Clowning Around
Before Hugh Jackman became the actor we love and adore, he took on random jobs to support himself. He spent years working at a gas station while he was a teenager. Also he was a clown for kids’ parties during his time at university. He claimed those jobs were the most difficult $50 he ever made. Funny story, a six year-old even exclaimed that he was an awful clown for not knowing any tricks. Even Hugh Jackman admitted the kid’s complaint was valid.
Quit Clowning Around
Peace Of Mind
Of course, working as a world-famous movie star comes with its fair deal of stressors. Between Jackson’s movie projects, maintaining his marriage to Deborra Lee Furness and raising his children, he finds time to practice Transcendental Meditation. Actually, he’s been practicing this meditation since he was just 20 years old. He claims it brings him peace and quiet, in spite of the chaos of his life.
Peace Of Mind
High Point
Of course, if you’re a big Jackman fan, you already knew he’s a triple threat with talents ranging from acting and dancing to singing. That’s why he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to star in Les Miserables. In fact, he considers this to be his career high point.
High Point
Saturday Night What?
Back in 2001, SNL asked Jackman to host the show. However, there was one slight problem…Hugh Jackman had never seen the show! Thus, the producers sent him tapes so he could better understand the format and tone. Later on, he said the episode that Conan O’Brien hosted was his favorite.
Saturday Night What
Early Catch
Playing Wolverine does require some rough play. So, when Jackman noticed a mark on his nose one day in November 2013, he thought nothing of it. However, he soon discovered it was basal cell carcinoma, which is a form of cancer. Luckily, it was mild, and he has been diligently treating it every since.
Early Catch
World Record
Hard to believe with all the superhero movies out there, but Hugh Jackman has the most superhero movie appearances out of any actor. Oh and no big deal, but he’s the only actor in every since movie in the X-Men franchise.
World Recorder
All The Right Angles
Since the character Wolverine is supposed to be short and stocky, the 6 foot 2 inch Hugh Jackman needed to bulk up and appear a lot shorter. Therefore, the camera crew shot him from some strange angles to make him look smaller. In addition, the directors had his costars put on platforms to make Jackman appear smaller.
All The Right Angles
Wolverine Diet
Funny enough, Hugh Jackman followed The Rock’s nutrition plan of carb-cycling when dieting for Wolverine. During weight-training days, Hugh Jackman would consume carbs, but on non-weight training days, he followed a low-car but high healthy fats diet, eating things like nuts, avocado and seeds. This mix helped him have enough fuel to train intensively while burning fat.
Wolverine Diet
Strict Plan
Curious about that clean eating diet he followed? Well, it’s definitely not for everyone considering he consumed 6,000 calories daily. Yes, that means he had 6-7 meals every single day.
Strict Plan
Tough Childhood
Jackman was born to British parents in Sydney, Australia. He was raised in a pretty strict house. Sadly, his mom left the family to move back to England when he was young. Jackman even opened up about the emotional trauma from this event on his 60 Minutes interview.
Tough Childhood
Inner Rage
Naturally, Hugh Jackman earned a reputation as a nice guy, but he admits that he taps into “Wolverine rage” from childhood trauma when his mom left the family. He said the absence of his mother left a profound impression on him. Apparently, it made him feel fearful, powerless and angry. Years later, he took this rage and played rugby. Then he used this again for his performances as Wolverine.
Inner Rage
Musical Child
Back when he was only 10 years old, Jackson saw a high school perform Man of la Mancha. He had heard about the show before from his father who played a record of it. This sparked his first interest in theater.
Musical Child
One Class Changed It All
Although he was always interested in theater, Jackman thought he would become a journalist. He graduated from the University of Technology with a degree in communications. However, he took a drama theory class during his senior year that led him to enroll at the Western Australian Academy of Arts and completely changed his career path.
One Class Changed It All
Just A Nice Guy
After more than 15 years in the industry, Jackson has been called the “Nicest Guy in Hollywood.” Despite the temptations and pressures, he has stayed honest, direct and genuine. Publicists have even tried to tell him to avoid certain topics and not to express himself in certain ways, but he stated true to himself, disregarding their advice. You have to respect that he’s been able to stay so down to Earth!
Just A Nice Guy
Jack of All Trades
What isn’t Hugh Jackman able to do? I mean he plays violin, piano and guitar! Oh and Meg Ryan got him into Yoga. Let’s not forget that he’s a member of the School of Practical Philosophy too.
Jack Of All Trades
Parenting Style
Between him and his wife, Jackman claims to be the stricter parent. He assumes the role of bad cop when necessary, but still claims to be more flexible than his own father was raising him. Apparently, Deborra Lee Furness has more of a carefree attitude.
Parenting Style
Blurry Vision
Even though this superhero is extremely physically fit, he doesn’t have the best eyesight. He’s near-sighted. If he isn’t wearing contacts, his vision is extremely blurry. It’s so blurry, he’s unable to read tele-prompters. Thus, he needs to memorize his lines beforehand.
Blurry Vision
Love At First Sight
While working on the Australian show Corelli, Hugh Jackman had a huge crush on his costar Deborra Lee Furness. Later on, Hugh Jackman admitted that he wanted to marry the leading lady immediately. Even though, he was in his early 20’s, and she is 13 years older, he didn’t care.
Love At First Sight
Settling Down
Back in 1996, Deborra Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman got married. After being unable to conceive with in vitro fertilization, they decided to adopt two kids. Now, they’re a happy family with their children, Oscar and Ava. Despite raising his kids in a privileged home, Jackman says he is strict with them and teaches them gratitude and respect.
Settling Down
Hardcore Training
Ever heard of David Kingsbury? He trained Hugh Jackman to prepare for the role in X-Men. Kingsbury built him a custom workout plan based on free weights and basic lifts using zero machines. This helped Jackman achieve a toned physique without having a bulkier, bodybuilder look.
Hardcore Training
No More Chicken
Of course, Jackman is the first to admit he was in his best shape while training for Wolverine. However, he can barely look at chicken breast now because he ate so much chicken over the years for his training.
No More Chicken
Last Minute Addition
Our favorite Wolverine was only a last-minute addiction to X-Men (2000). Apparently, Dougray Scott was supposed to play the superhero but when his filming for Mission: Impossible II needed two additional months, he had to back out.
Last Minute Addition
Fake It ‘Til You Make It
In real life, Hugh Jackman doesn’t smoke. Not only is he a non-smoker, but he finds it really hard and just plain awful to smoke for his movies.
Fake It ‘Til You Make It
International Recognition
Hugh Jackman first gained recognition outside of Australia in 1998. Jackman had the lead of Curly for the Royal National Theatre’s Oklahoma! production in London’s West End.
International Recognition
Why Australia
Despite his parents being English, Jackman grew up in Australia. Why did his parents move to Australia in 1967? Well, they came as part of a migration wave called the “Ten Pound Pops” immigration. Apparently, it was only 10 pounds for processing fees to migrate then.
Why Australia
Siblings
Hugh Jackman has four older siblings. He was only the second from his parents’ kids to be born in Australia. In addition to his older four, he has a younger half-sister from when his mother got remarried.
Siblings
Divorce
When Jackman was only 8 years old, his parents got divorced. He stayed in Australia with his two brothers and dad. Meanwhile, his mom and two sisters moved back to England.
Divorce
Nominated Actor
Not that he needs awards to prove anything, but Jackman did get nominated for a 1999 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award. He was nominated as Best Actor in a Musical for his role in Oklahoma for the 1998 season.
Nominated Actor
How Romantic
Can Hugh Jackman be any more perfect? He personally designed an engagement ring for Deborra Lee Furness. Both their wedding rings have a special Sanskrit inscription on them that reads, “Om paramar mainamar.” In English, it translates to “we dedicate our union to a greater source.”
How Romantic