Hugh Jackman - Biography

In a nutshell

Where exactly did Hugh Jackman come from? We don't mean his birthplace, or indeed how he was conceived (that'd be just plain wrong!). We just don't remember how he became such a global star in seemingly no time at all. Or is that just us?

Born the youngest of 5 children in Sydney, Australia, Hugh (or Huge, as we've heard some people call him) attended an all-boys school where he appeared in a production of My Fair Lady (ahem). Hugh spent a year in the UK after his graduation and returned to Australia to complete an acting course.

And as we all know, if you do an acting course in Australia there's a guaranteed place for you in Neighbours, right? Perhaps not entirely accurate (!) but Hugh was indeed offered a role in the soap but had the sense to decline.

Before really hitting the big time internationally, Hugh had plenty of work in Australia. In Melbourne he played Gaston in a Disney production of Beauty and the Beast but his first major recognition outside of his home country was in London's West End in the acclaimed 1998 production of Oaklahoma! He must have been good as he was given an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

The first real major blockbuster for Hugh was of course 2000's X-Men in which he played the character of Wolverine. He almost lost out on the role to Dougray Scott but because one of Scott's other commitments overran he couldn't do it. Hurray!

Hugh did a brilliant job of 'becoming' Wolverine, so much so that he was back in X2, X3 and of course, 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Huge ? sorry, Hugh ? married Deborrah-Lee Furness in 1996 and the couple have adopted two children.

Did you know?