There are a lot of things we can say about Hugh Jackman. He’s what’s known as a “triple threat” who can sing, dance and act. And we can’t forget that he was also voted “Peoples Sexiest Man Alive” in 2008.
RAISED BY A COURAGEOUS FATHER
Hugh Michael Jackman was born on October 12, 1968 in Sydney, Australia to English-born parents Grace McNeil and Christopher Jackman. His entire family moved to Australia from England in 1967, the year before his birth. He has four older siblings, two brothers and two sister and a half-sister from his mothers second marriage.
When Jackman was eight years old, his parents divorced. His mother returned to England to live and care for her own mother, who was ill. The job of taking care of the five young Jackman’s fell onto the shoulders of his father, an accountant. In interviews, Jackman cannot say enough about the man who devoted himself to his family. In his own words: He’s an extraordinarily selfless, amazing man.
Jackman went to Pymble Public Primary School, and later attended a Knox Boys Grammar School in Sydneys Upper North Shore where he starred in its production of My Fair Lady in 1985.
Although his mother was not a part of his everyday life, Jackman did travel back and forth between Australia and England for visits. It was during those visits, that he got his first taste of the theatre.
Jackman loved going to plays with his mother, and he frequently acted in school plays, but he never once considered becoming a professional actor, it was more a hobby. Instead, he chose to major in communications at the Sydney University of Technology, with the notion of possibly becoming a journalist.
Sadly for Jackman, in his senior year, he was a few credits short, so upon his friends encouragement he decided to take drama class, as they felt he was guaranteed an easy “A”. But as it turned out, the class was far more demanding than expected. He was quite shocked at how challenging it was. He was assigned a class project where all students had to take part. By chance, Jackman was cast as the lead of Vaclav Havels “The Memorandum” and by the end of the term, he was totally hooked.
In his own words: “I act because I have felt in acting some of the most free moments in my life, I think its also one thing that scares me the most”.
JOURNALIST TURNED ACTOR
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, Jackman knew he wasn’t really cut out to be a journalist. He enrolled in the Actors Center Sydney, to study and complete the one-year course “The Journey”. He was then offered a role on the popular soap opera “Neighbours” but turned it down to pursue more study. His new found passion for acting prompted him to enroll at the Western Australians Academy of Performing Arts in Perth to study drama.
In his own words: I studied in Perth, where you’re totally isolated and in this bubble of creative fire and risk-taking”.
For the next three years, Jackman immersed himself in acting, appearing in plays and taking classes in opera and musical theatre. When he graduated in 1994, he had no clear expectations for his future.
In his own words: After I graduated I thought, well, “I’m going to give this everything I’ve got for five years. If nothing happens, I’ll start my own theatre company or whatever…. I’m not going to spend my whole life waiting for the phone to ring”.
MY FUTURE WIFE
It was on the night of his final graduation performance, Jackman received the phone call that not only gave him his first television role in the 10 part drama series “Correlli”, but it also introduced him to Deborra-Lee Furness, the woman fated to become his future wife. Jackman played the role of the violent but insidiously attractive prison inmate Kevin Jones opposite Deborra, who starred as the criminal psychologist. The couples budding romance onscreen led to a behind the scenes relationship.
Hugh Jackman married Deborra-Lee Furness in 1996 at St Johns in Toorak, Victoria Australia. Jackman personally designed an engagement ringfor Furness, and their wedding rings are ingraved with the inscription “Om Paramar Mainamar” translated, we dedicate our union to a greater source. After two miscarriages, they adopted two children a boy Oscar and then a girl Ava. But the marriage hasn’t been without controversy. Firstly Deborra is 13 years older than Jackman. The fact that they couldn’t have children, often likened them to a similar marriage to that of John Travolta and Kelly Preston. They love each other, are wonderful parents and every now and then he opts for some male intimacy and contact. I can think of a lot worse things, for Deborra to deal with than being married to her gay best friend who is the father of her two children, gorgeous, rich, famous, talented and loves her. All hail Deborra-Lee Furness, the 58 year old Australian actress who scored a foxy husband 13 years her junior.
CHILDREN AND ADOPTION
Even before Jackman and his wife decided to try and have a biological baby together, they had always planned to adopt as well. Things just werent happening for them both naturally, so they reverted to IVF and as a result sadly Deb had a couple of miscarriages. Jackman acknowledges that it isn’t something that should be swept under the carpet. There is a grieving process that both partners still need to go through. He recalls that when his first adopted child was born “Oscar” all that heartache just melted away as nothing can prepare you for that moment. The avalanche of emotion that follows, when you finally hold this precious, defenceless individual in your arms is a moment you cant express but must endure yourself.
Family Man with children Oscar and Ava
Hugh Jackman – Oh What a beautiful Morning” – Oklahoma
After Corelli, and marriage Jackman appeared in a number of other Televison shows, such as Law of the Land, Halifax FP, Blue Heelers, and Banjo Paterson’s The Man from Snowy River. On stage Jackman was hailed as one of the most promising newcomers in music theatre when he was cast in a Melbourne production of “Walt Disneys Beauty and the Beast” playing the part of macho villan “Gaston”. The tall and muscular Jackman still had to weat prosthetic pieces to pull off the build of the character, but even with his added padding, his spot on portrayal shone through. He followed this performance up with playing screenwriter Joe Gillis in Trevor Nunn’s Melbourne production of “Sunset Boulevard”. Nunn was so impressed with the actors work that he invited him to audition at London’s National Theatre, In 1998 he headed to London to try his hand at portraying the singing cowboy “Curly McClain” in the Royal National Theatre production of the musical “Oklahoma”. His highly publicized and strong, engergetic performance, earned him a nomination for an “Olivier”, The Oliver Award is the most prestigious theatre honor granted in Great Britain, named after the renowned British actor Sir Laurence Olivier.
While Jackman technically made his film debut in the little seen Australian production “Erskinville Kings” (1999), he reached a much wider audience with his starring role in “Paperback Hero” (1999).
Never one to hold back, Jackman’s next move playing Logan/Wolverine, a mutant superhero with quick- healing powers, unbreakable bones, and razorsharp metal claws, was by far his most notable performance and the one that made Hollywood take notice. Jackman perfectly brought the comic book character of Wolverine, an anti-hero to life.
He stayed in the spotlight, with a supporting role in “Someone Like You”. (2001) and then went on to work with film greats John Travolta and Halle Berry in the action film “Swordfish” (2001).
Time for a change of pace, and Jackman delivered a charming leading man performance as Meg Ryan’s time travelling beau in the romantic comedy “Kate and Leopold” (2001). This film was radically different from previous roles, but it helped him solidity a huge female fan base.
In 2003, he donned the sideburns and claws of Wolverine for “X2”. Now an international movie star, Jackman returned to his love of musical theatre and debuted on Broadway in “The Boy from Oz” a story about Australian flamboyant showman Peter Allen who died of and Aids related Cancer in 1992. Jackman received a “Tony Award” for Best Actor in a Musical, among many other accolades and he was also asked to host the “Tony Awards Ceremony”.
Hugh Jackman and Neil Patrick Harris – Tony Awards (2011)
In October 2004, when the run of the Boy from Oz ended, Jackman was only to eager to take a break, head home and spend time with his adopted son Oscar. He even hoped to get stuck into the gardening and cooking.
In 2006, Jackman revived Wolverine for the third installment of the series “X Men – The Last Stand”. He then went on to work in a Woody Allen Comedy starring Scarlett Johansson, called “Scoop”. In “The Prestige” (2006) he sparkled, and then lightened the mood considerably lending his voice to the hit animated childrens adventure, “Happy Feet” (2006). ‘The Fountain” (2006) is an unconventional take on love, death and the search for eternal life. With “Deception” (2008) Jackman tried his hand at producing, didn’t rate very well with the audience of critics. He rebounded with Baz Luhrman’s “Australia” alongside friend and fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman. 2009 once again Jackman would revisit his character Wolverine in “X Men Origins – Wolverine” .
Prior to the long anticipated release of “Wolverine” Jackman was asked to host the 81st Academy Awards (2009) in the hope of raising the poor ratings from previous years. The show was altered considerably to cater to Jackmans song and dance style of hosting. Whilst he got credit for his strong execution of the shows several song and dance numbers, his hosting received mixed reviews. Despite this, when the figures came in, the shows ratings and viewership had increased by 13 percent, from the previous year.
Back in character, Jackman again delivered a great performance in “X Men – First Class” (2011). From there, he did “Real Steel” (2011) and “Rise of the Guardians (2013). Back to broadway, he put his song and dance skills to good use in the Broadway musical “Les Miserables” (2012) which also starred his mate Russell Crowe. Even before its release, the Hollywood Foreign Press bestowed a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his portrayal of Valjean, an accolade soon followed by an Oscar nomination for the Best Actor catergory.
2012 followed with “Movie 43”, the release of ‘The Wolverine” and “Prisoners”.
With another Wolverine scheduled for filming in 2014 “X-Men – “Days of Future Past” it doesn’t look like Jackman’s career will be slowing down in the near future.
In his private life, he loves quality time with his children, cooking, gardening, he plays piano and attends regular Yoga classes.
Of his marriage to Furness, Jackmans says “I have a career, but Deb and my kids are who I live for”.
