Hugh Jackman - Hugh Michael Jackman (born October 12, 1968) is an Australian film producer, film and stage actor, known for playing Wolverine in X-Men and its sequels, and his Tony Award-winning performance in The Boy from Oz. In 2005 he won an Emmy for hosting the Tony awards. Contents [hide] 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Career 1.3 Personal life 2 Selected filmography 3 References 4 External links [edit] Biography [edit] Early life Jackman was born in Pymble, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the youngest of five children of English-born Anglican parents Chris Jackman, an accountant, and Grace Watson. 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 Pymble Public School and Knox Grammar School, an all-boys school in Wahroonga, where he was Head of School in 1984, 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. [edit] Career Hugh Jackman as 'Duncan Jones' in Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Jackman's early film work includes Erskineville Kings and 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. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in X2 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 II for two additional months of shooting. Jackman, at 6' 2 1/2'[1], stands close to 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 camera angle shots. Despite this, Jackman's performance was highly praised and the film's success immediately made him a star. He reprised the role in 2003's X2: X-Men United, and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. For the role of Wolverine Jackman needed to start body building. In Men's Health magazine, he said that at the end of his training, he could bench-press 315 lbs. and leg-press 1000 lbs. 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 2006 he was cast to replace Russell Crowe in Baz Luhrmann's Australia, starring opposite Nicole Kidman. He is now preparing a number of movies which he will both produce and star in, including Wolverine and a remake of Carousel. [edit] Personal life 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 suffered through two miscarriages, after which they have two adopted children, son Oscar Maximillian (b. May 15, 2000) and daughter Ava Eliot (b. July 10, 2005) They currently live in Melbourne. Jackman personally designed an engagement ring for Furness, and their wedding rings bore the Sanskrit inscription 'Om paramar mainamar,' translated by Furness as 'we dedicate our union to a greater source.' [1] In 2005, Jackman joined with longtime assistant John Palermo to form a production company, Seed Productions, whose first project will be Wolverine in 2008. Furness is also involved in the company, and Palermo had three rings made with an inscription meaning 'unity' for himself, Furness, and Jackman.[2] About the trio's collaboration Jackman reports 'I'm very lucky in the partners I work with in my life, Deb and John Palermo. It really works. We all have different strengths. I love it. It's very exciting.' [3] According to NNDB, 'Jackman has very poor vision, and is unable to even read a menu when is not wearing his contact lenses. He is left-handed, loves windsurfing, plays the piano, guitar, and violin, and sushi is his favorite comfort food.'[4] He also knows how to juggle 5 balls in the air at the same time. He does not smoke in real life, and hates having to do so in films. He sang the Australian National Anthem in front of 100,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket ground before the 1998 Bledisloe Cup. Also sang the National Anthem at the 1999 NRL Grand Final at Stadium Australia. [edit] Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes unknown Carousel remake Billy Bigelow Announced 2008 If You Could See Me Now Announced The Amateur CIA Agent(Main character)/Producer Announced Rebound Guy Announced/In Negotiations Australia Pre-Production Wolverine Logan/Wolverine Pre-Production 2007 The Tourist Wyatt Filming A Plumm Summer Adult Elliot Pre-Production 2006 Happy Feet Memphis (voice) Flushed Away Roddy (voice) The Prestige Robert Angier The Fountain Tomas / Tommy / Tom Creo Scoop Peter Lyman X-Men:The Last Stand Logan/Wolverine 2005 Stories of Lost Souls Roger 2004 Van Helsing Van Helsing Standing Room Only Roger 2003 X2 Logan/Wolverine 2001 Kate & Leopold Leopold Swordfish Stanley Jobson Someone Like You... Eddie Alden 2000 X-Men Logan/Wolverine 1999 Erskineville Kings Wace Paperback Hero Jack Willis