“To make films like 'X-Men' work commercially - and also have some class - is one of the hardest things there is to do. I want to be seen to be able to cross lots of genres and still be 'fair dinkum,' as we say in Australia, which means genuine and true and, well, unique.” MenWantWellsMeanStillsAbleFilmClassUniqueFairsCrossesGenuineHardestGenreAustraliaHardest ThingX Men Author:Hugh Jackman
“As an actor, you have many tools - your body, your voice, your emotions, mentally. In film, you have your eyes because they communicate your thought process. In fact, generally in film, what you don't say is more important than what you say. That's not so much the case for stage.” ImportantFactsBodyEyeFilmActorsProcessVoiceEmotionCasesStageToolsCommunicateYour BodyThought Process Author:Hugh Jackman
“I find that kid actors are great reminders of the simplicity of acting. As you get older, you can sometimes complicate things a little more. You can become too aware of, 'Okay, this is the scene emotionally. This is where we need to be. We've got the climax coming up.' You can start to analyze it too much.” NeedsLittlesSometimesKidsActorsActingToo MuchSceneOkaySimplicityRemindersClimax Author:Hugh Jackman
“I have done many movies that people hadn't seen. 'The Fountain,' I spent a year on that. 'The Prestige' with Chris Nolan, and 'Australia.' From my perspective it's very satisfying. Some movies people see and other movies they don't. 'Wolverine,' 'X Men,' I know that in some level people know me just for that and it's fine for me.” PeopleKnowsMenYearsDoneLevelsPerspectiveFineAustraliaSatisfyingKnow MeFountainPrestigeX MenNolan Author:Hugh Jackman
“I have lots of older siblings, and as they started to leave the house, I went from cooking once a week to twice, three times, and so on. After a while, it was just like making the bed.” ThreeHouseWeekBedCookingThree TimesSiblingOlder Sibling Author:Hugh Jackman
“I just find the evangelical church too, well, restrictive. But the School of Practical Philosophy is non-confrontational. We believe there are many forms of scripture. What is true is true and will never change, whether it's in the Bible or in Shakespeare. It's about oneness.” BelieveWellsPhilosophySchoolFormChurchScripturePracticalsOnenessNever ChangeEvangelical Author:Hugh Jackman
“I lived with a coffee farmer called Dukale on a trip I made with World Vision to Ethiopia, and realised there's no good reason for the disparity in opportunity around the world.” WorldMadeReasonOpportunityVisionCoffeeAround The WorldFarmersRealisedDisparityEthiopiaWorld Vision Author:Hugh Jackman
“I once sang 'Summer Nights,' from 'Grease,' at a bar in Melbourne with John Travolta, who's a good friend of mine. He looked cool singing the part of Danny - sitting in an armchair, smoking a cigar - while I got stuck playing Sandy.” NightMinesSummerSingingSittingStuckBarsSmokingGood FriendCigarGreaseSandySummer NightsArmchairsMelbourne Author:Hugh Jackman
“I'm lucky to have worked in theater all over the world, but there's something magical about Broadway. The audiences are smart, they're educated. They go in ready and they're up for it, they're up for the party. It's a whole different atmosphere.” WorldDifferentWholePartyAudienceReadyLuckySmartTheaterEducatedAtmosphereBroadway Author:Hugh Jackman
“The most scared I'd ever been was the first time I sang at a rugby match, Australia versus New Zealand, in front of one hundred thousand people. I had a panic attack the night before because people have been booed off and never worked again... just singing one song, the national anthem.” PeopleFirstsHas BeensNightSongFrontsThousandSingingHundredFirst TimeScaredAustraliaPanicVersusRugbyNew ZealandAnthemPanic AttacksNational AnthemSinging The National AnthemAustralia And New Zealand Author:Hugh Jackman
“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.” PeopleThinkingTryingYearsImportantChallengesActingCareersGreaterTeachingCrafts Author:Hugh Jackman
“And I think that, of course, there is some dysfunction of needing to be liked or noticed or to feel part of things, something going on there for most actors. For some there's not and I think they really struggle with it.” ThinkingFeelsCoursesActorsStruggleDysfunction Author:Hugh Jackman
“At the end of drama school, I made a contract with myself: I'd try acting for five years. I was 26. I had already spent eight years working in restaurants and gas stations. So I had seen enough small businesses to understand that that's what acting is: a small business.” TryingYearsMadeEndsEnoughSchoolBusinessActingFiveDramaEightRestaurantsFive YearsGasStationsContractsSmall BusinessGas Stations Author:Hugh Jackman
“Both my parents are English and came out to Australia in 1967. I was born the following year. My parents, and immigrants like them, were known as '£10 poms.' Back then, the Australian government was trying to get educated British people and Canadians - to be honest, educated white people - to come and live in Australia.” PeopleTryingYearsGovernmentParentBornWhiteKnownHonestFollowingBritishEducatedBeing HonestAustraliaImmigrantsPoundsAustralian Author:Hugh Jackman
“Breakfast is my specialty. I admit it's the easiest meal to cook, but I make everything with a twist, like lemon ricotta pancakes or bacon that's baked instead of fried.” CooksMealsBreakfastTwistsLemonsPancakesSpecialtyBreakfast Being Important Author:Hugh Jackman
“Comic book fans have loved Wolverine, and all the 'X-Men' characters, for more than the action. I think that's what set it apart from many of the other comic books. In the case of Wolverine, when he appeared, he was a revolution really. He was the first anti-hero.” ThinkingMenFirstsBookCharacterActionCasesFansRevolutionHeroComicComic BookX MenAnti Hero Author:Hugh Jackman
“For Sunday breakfast, I make orange and ricotta pancakes, crepes and eggs. You know men, we usually go for breakfast because it's the easiest thing to cook and then we try to make it seem fancy.” KnowsMenTryingSeemsCooksFancySundayEggsBreakfastOrangePancakesCrepes Author:Hugh Jackman
“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.” PeopleWayLooksHas BeensI CanMomentsMightGoneStonesAdmireVulnerableStepping StonesFaltering Author:Hugh Jackman
“I don't think many actors are the best judge of careers. I think generally we have good instincts about what we can do in terms of acting. And often they become directors, which I don't want to be.” ThinkingWantActorsTermCan DoActingCareersJudgingDirectorsInstinct Author:Hugh Jackman
“I got hooked on espresso when I visited Italy at 18, but these days I prefer a 'flat white.' It's like a small latte with less milk - they're popular in Australia.” WhiteThese DaysAustraliaFlatsMilkHookedEspressoLattes Author:Hugh Jackman
“I had a bad back for a couple of years. I had to do a lot of physiotherapy for it. What I couldn't understand at the time was why the therapists had me doing a lot of stomach work.” YearsCoupleStomachTherapistsPhysiotherapy Author:Hugh Jackman
“I have two kids, career and I travel, and I don't think my life is any different than most couples. The most valuable commodity now for many people is time and how to parcel that out.” PeopleThinkingTwoDifferentKidsLife IsCareersCoupleValuableTime ManagementCommodityParcel Author:Hugh Jackman
“I know I'm not known as method. By nature I'm not a brooder. What I continue to use is a mixture of the English school, which is traditionally outside-in, and the more American way of working from the inside out.” KnowsWayUseSchoolKnownMethodMixtures Author:Hugh Jackman
“I love food, all types of food. I love Korean food, Japanese, Italian, French. In Australia, we don't have a distinctive Australian food, so we have food from everywhere all around the world. We're very multicultural, so we grew up with lots of different types of food.” WorldDifferentGrewTypeGrew UpAround The WorldAustraliaItalianAustralianKoreanDistinctiveMulticulturalFood LoveI Love FoodAustralia DayKorean Food Author:Hugh Jackman
“I love New York ... I think it's the best city in the world. As far as cities go, everything's there. I think it's so vibrant. I love the people, I think they're honest, in your face. If they don't like you, they'll say, 'Get out of my way,' if they like you they'll slap you on the back and support you. It's a very intoxicating environment to be in.” PeopleIfsThinkingWorldWayFacesCitiesSupportEnvironmentHonestNew YorkLike YouMy WayYour FaceSlapSupport YouCities In The WorldI Love New York Author:Hugh Jackman
“I was brought up in a way that when you're at a dinner party, you don't grab a chip unless it's been offered to everyone else. It's the manners of being brought up by English parents.” WayParentPartyDinnerMannersChipsDinner Party Author:Hugh Jackman
“I'm doing 'Les Miserables,' the movie. I've done a lot of musicals and a lot of movies, and I know there are not a lot of people in Hollywood who have been down those two paths so I've been like, 'Come on, let's do a movie/musical.'” PeopleKnowsHas BeensTwoDoneActorsPathHollywoodMusicalMovieTwo Paths Author:Hugh Jackman
“I'm doing a new musical on Broadway, which opens in October called The Boy from Oz, where I play Peter Allen. For those of you who don't know, he became first famous in America for marrying Liza Minelli.” KnowsFirstsPlayAmericaBoysFameMusicalPeterBroadwayOctoberMarrying Author:Hugh Jackman
“I'm not a kid. You don't get in this business for anonymity. It's not like I have posters of myself on the wall, but at the same time, I'm kind of ready for a little bit of it, but I worry for my little one, and my family - their privacy. That's what I'm more protective of.” KindLittlesKidsBitsBusinessWorryReadyWallLittle BitMy FamilyPrivacyProtectivePostersAnonymity Author:Hugh Jackman
“I'm quite an independent person, and I had to be. As a boy and growing into a young man I had to look out for myself. And now I'm very family-oriented. It's a big priority in my life.” MenLooksPersonsBigsYoungBoysGrowingIndependentPrioritiesYoung ManFamily OrientedIndependent Person Author:Hugh Jackman
“If I go to a party I don't feel like I have to be in the centre. But I do find myself quite often being placed in that position. Even when I was younger at school, I would be asked to make a speech. I don't remember putting up my hand and all that often but I'd just find myself there.” IfsFeelsHandsWould BeSchoolRememberPartyPositionSpeechCentre Author:Hugh Jackman
“If you ask my wife, the biggest fault is my inability around the house. She says the only thing handy about me is that I'm close by. And, I have a terrible memory. I'm bad at saying no. I often double-book. There are a lot of things.” IfsBookAsksHouseMemoriesWifeTerribleFaultsMy WifeInabilitySaying NoHandy Author:Hugh Jackman
“In terms of theater, there's not a more supportive theater community than in New York. It's really kind of a real thrill to go there. I mean, don't forget, I'm a boy from the suburbs of Sydney, so getting to New York is a huge, huge thrill.” KindMeanRealTermCommunityForgetBoysNew YorkHugeTheaterThrillSupportiveSuburbsSydney Author:Hugh Jackman
“It's always interesting - how do you actually convey thought through song? We're used to the convention on stage. In film, we used to be used to it, and now sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You need to be fresh and really look at the material.” NeedsLooksSometimesFilmUsedSongInterestingStageMaterialsUsed To BeConventions Author:Hugh Jackman
“My agent said to me five years ago, 'Hugh, I can see one day you... if I had to plan a goal for you, it's for you to have the kind of career that Sinatra had.'” IfsYearsKindSaidI CanGoalCareersFivePlansOne DayYears AgoAgentsFive Years Author:Hugh Jackman
“My father is a real idealist, and he's all about learning. If I asked for a pair of Nikes growing up, it was just a resounding 'No.' But if I asked for a saxophone, one would appear and next day and I'd be signed up for lessons. So anything to do with education or learning, my father would spare no expense.” IfsRealNextFatherGrowing UpGrowingLessonsPairsExpensesSparesNext DayIdealistSaxophoneNike Author:Hugh Jackman
“My favorite play in drama school was 'The Bacchae.' It's about a king who literally gets eaten alive by all the women in the play in a kind of orgy - it's related to the word 'bacchanal' - and I loved that idea of animalistic chaos and following our own desires.” KindIdeasPlaySchoolDesireAliveKingsDramaChaosMy FavoriteFollowingRelatedAnimalistic Author:Hugh Jackman
“My friends say, 'Man you're going to have kids sleeping on pillowcases with your face on it! You're going to be on toothbrushes and magnets and stuff.' I guess now that I'm a dad, I'm thrilled about that.” MenKidsFacesStuffSleepDadMy FriendsYour FaceMagnetToothbrushesPillowcases Author:Hugh Jackman
“My parents were drawn to the idea that there was space and opportunity in Australia. For the meagre sum of £10, you could sail your entire family out to Australia, so that's what my father chose to do.” IdeasFatherOpportunityParentSpaceAustraliaPoundsSail Author:Hugh Jackman
“Sometimes you have to go places with characters and emotions within yourself you don't want to do, but you have a duty to the story and as a storyteller to do it.” WantSometimesCharacterStoriesMotivationEmotionDutyStoryteller Author:Hugh Jackman
“The last 10 years I have had to bulk up for roles and I'm naturally skinny, so I have eaten and killed so many chickens! I wouldn't even want to count. I need to balance that out.” WantNeedsYearsLastsRolesBalanceChickensSkinny Author:Hugh Jackman
“There is anxiety, but it comes after you've finished filming because it's out of your hands; people are editing it, they're cutting it, marketing it. And it's... part your career sort of rides on that. But when you're actually filming it's a team thing and it really feels good there for me.” PeopleFeelsHandsCareersCuttingTeamAnxietyMarketingFinishedFeel GoodEditing Author:Hugh Jackman
“When you're playing an icon like Wolverine, it's sometimes better to be someone that nobody knows because they don't know what to expect. I don't mind a little bit of anonymity; it helps on the subway.” KnowsMindLittlesSometimesHelpingBitsLittle BitIconsNobody KnowsSubwayAnonymity Author:Hugh Jackman
“The best part about being married is that feeling of being a team. All couples have ups and downs, so having someone you trust is priceless” FeelingsTeamCoupleMarriedBeing MarriedPricelessUps & Downs Author:Hugh Jackman
“When people stop me in the street, and I can see they want to tell me more than they want the selfie, they want to tell me what it means to them, and that means a lot to me.” PeopleMean Author:Hugh Jackman
“There is still boxing, but there's just no money in it anymore. If you went around the world and asked a bunch of people under 20 years old, to name a boxer, I bet they couldn't name one. They'd be able to name a UFC fighter though. When I was younger there was Mike Tyson and we watched everything. I'm not saying its gone, or its going to go, and it could easily be ignited by another fighter, but it's just that idea that UFC is more violent, that desire for more spectacle, has captured people's attention.” PeopleWorldDesireAttentionViolentFighterBoxingNo MoneyTyson Author:Hugh Jackman
“Your marriage goes to a whole new level. You not only fall in love with your wife in a new way, but you're forced to pull together. You have to become a united front.” WayWholeTogetherFallLevelsUnitedWifeLove YouFrontsDadFalling In LoveNew WaysUnited Front Author:Hugh Jackman
“Historically, much of the motivation for public schooling has been to stifle variety and institute social control.” Has BeensMotivationSocialLibertyLibertarianVarietyLibertarianismPublic SchoolSchoolingInstituteSocial Control Author:Hugh Jackman
“Giving people a hand up, not a handout, is the way forward.” PeopleWayGivingHandsMotivationHands UpWay ForwardHandouts Author:Hugh Jackman
“I think adoption is a blessing all around when it's done right.” ThinkingInspirationalDoneBlessingAdoptionAdoptedAdoptingAdoptive Parents Author:Hugh Jackman
