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Hugh Jackman Profile |
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Birth Date: October 12, 1968
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Birth Place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Birth Name: Hugh Michael Jackman
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Height: 6'3"
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Biography |
Hugh Jackman is an Australian film and stage actor,
probably most famous for playing Wolverine in X-Men and its
sequels. His other works within the United States include
Swordfish, Van Helsing and Kate & Leopold (for which Hugh
Jackman was nominated in 2001 for the Golden Globe Award for
Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy).
Jackman was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the
youngest of five children of English-born Anglican parents.
His mother left the family and went back to England when he
was eight years old, and he remained behind with his father
(an accountant with a degree from Cambridge), and his
siblings. Jackman attended Knox Grammar School, an all-boys
school in Wahroonga, New South Wales and graduated from the
University of Technology, Sydney with a BA in
Communications, having majored in journalism. Jackman's
introduction to acting was by accident, as he had to take an
acting class as part of the requirements for a college
diploma. He became interested in the craft and used some
money inherited from a relative to attend the WAAPA of Edith
Cowan University in Perth, from which he graduated in 1994.
Jackman's film work includes Paperback Hero (1999), while
his television work includes Law of the Land, Halifax f.p.,
Blue Heelers and Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (in which he
appeared in the recurring guest starring role of Duncan
Jones during the seasons' in 1996).
On stage, Jackman played Gaston in the Melbourne production
of Beauty and the Beast, and Joe Gillis in the same city's
production of Sunset Boulevard. During his stage musical
career in Melbourne, he also hosted both Melbourne's Carols
by Candlelight and Sydney's Carols in the Domain.
He first became known outside of Australia when he played
the leading role of Curly in the Royal National Theatre's
acclaimed stage production of Oklahoma! in the West End of
London in England. His performance was filmed for television
broadcast and DVD release. On 6 June 2002, Jackman sang the
role of Billy Bigelow in Carousel in a special concert
performance at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York City.
He was a last-minute addition to the X-Men cast. Dougray
Scott was originally cast as Wolverine, but Scott was tied
up on the set of Mission: Impossible 2 for two additional
months of shooting. Jackman, at 6' 3", stands a foot taller
than Wolverine, who is reported by Marvel Comics to be 5'
3". Therefore, most shots of Wolverine had to be shot in
creative ways to make Jackman appear shorter than he
actually is; for example, he was often given half-body shots
or upward camara angle shots. Despite this, Jackman's
performance was highly praised and the film's success
immediately made him a star. Jackman currently plans to star
in a spinoff film for Wolverine, slated for release in 2007.
In 2004, Jackman won a Tony Award for his Broadway portrayal
of Australian songwriter and performer Peter Allen in The
Boy from Oz. He hosted the Tony Awards in 2004 and 2005,
garnering very positive reviews. The televisation of the
these awards earned him an Emmy Award win for Outstanding
Individual Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy program
in 2005.
In 2004, he was part of an advertising campaign for pay-tv
company Foxtel. He was named Company Magazine's 35th Sexiest
Man Alive in the same year.
2005 saw him cast in the lead role of The Fountain, directed
by Darren Aronofsky. Jackman starred alongside Rachel Weisz
and Ellen Burstyn.
Jackman won the part of the voice of Roddy in Flushed Away.
Jim Singer was the cast of Roddy in Flushed Away, but the
director Sam Fell deemed Singer too young to play that role.
He has three movies which he will produce, currently in
production.
Jackman married actress Deborra-Lee Furness in February
1996. They met on the set of his first TV acting job in
Corelli, an Australian television program. Jackman played an
angry prisoner who fell in love with his counsellor, played
by Furness. The couple have two adopted children, son Oscar
Maximillian (b. May 15, 2000) and daughter Ava Eliot (b.
July 10, 2005) They currently live in Melbourne. |
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Other Information |
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 wife 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.
Favorite curse word is "bullshit".
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.
His favorite food is sushi.
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.
Favorite word is "panache."
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.
Is left-handed, although often seen doing things
right-handed (such as shooting, much like actor Keanu
Reeves).
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)_qv), 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.". |
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