Hugh Jackman Profile: From X-Men to Real Steel

Hugh Jackman Profile: From X-Men to Real Steel He’s best known as a cigar smoking immortal mutant with claws. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be taking a look at the career of Hugh Jackman. Hugh Michael Jackman was born on October 12th, 1968 in Sydney, Australia as the youngest of five children. Even at a young age, Jackman developed a deep-rooted desire to travel the world, and his dream was to become a chef onboard an airplane. He got his first taste of acting when he starred in a high school production of “My Fair Lady.” Eventually, while earning his BA in Communications at Sydney’s University of Technology, Jackman revisited his interest in drama. He then nurtured this hobby by taking a one-year course at the Actors’ Centre in his home town. Jackman decided to continue his dramatic education following this course, and turned down a role on a popular Australian soap opera in order to do so. Just prior to his graduation, he was offered a regular part on the short-lived Australian drama series, “Corelli.” While the show only lasted one season, this was where Jackman met his future wife. Following this he appeared in a number of Australian musicals, television shows and films. He finally managed to make a name for himself outside his home country when he starred in the highly praised stage production and 1999 film adaptation of the musical “Oklahoma!” That same year, Jackman achieved instant Hollywood fame when he ignored his wife’s advice and accepted the role of comic book hero Wolverine in Bryan Singer’s “X-Men.” Not only did the actor perform his own stunts, but Jackman also put on a great deal of muscle for the role and even wore claws around his house in preparation. Due to the character’s relative lack of dialogue, he took cues from Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” in an effort to deliver a memorable performance through body language. In 2001, the actor took on two dramatically different projects. He starred opposite Meg Ryan in the romantic comedy “Kate & Leopold” as a Victorian-era duke who time-travels to the 21st century. Jackman also played in the crime-thriller “Swordfish” opposite John Travolta and his “X-Men” co-star, Halle Berry. In the years that followed, Jackman continued his stage acting, returned for two “X-Men” sequels, took the lead in the monster movie “Van Helsing,” and lent his voice to the animated features “Happy Feet” and “Flushed Away.” He also played a magician who competed with Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan’s “The Prestige,” became a suspect in Woody Allen’s comedic murder mystery “The Scoop,” and starred in Darren Aronofsky’s romantic drama “The Fountain.” In 2008, Jackman played opposite Nicole Kidman as a cattle driver in the ambitious film, “Australia.” He then returned to his iconic superhero role in 2009’s prequel installment “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” As if he hadn’t had enough of the role, he even made a memorable cameo appearance in 2011’s “X-Men First Class.” That same year, Jackman starred in the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots-inspired science fiction film, “Real Steel.” In that special effects-laden project, he played a former athlete who builds a robot in order to compete for the robot-boxing championship. Hugh Jackman is an accomplished stage performer and actor, but he showed off his talents in hosting and singing at the 83rd Academy Awards. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he has devoted his spare time to combating poverty in impoverished countries.