Multi-topic interviews

[jo]

Some interesting things he shares in this interview --

www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/movies/xmen-star-hugh-jackman-reveals-his-biggest-mistakes-and-the-gamble-everyone-thought-was-nuts/story-fnihm796-1226917330640

Excerpts --

Next up, Jackman is set to return to Broadway as the lead in the Jez Butterworth play, The River, which played to rave reviews in London in 2012.

Getting Jackman back on stage is considered a boon for producers in what are tough times for Broadway.

His last foray into theatre was 2011’s Back On Broadway solo show, which became a monster hit and took millions.

“They sent me the script (for The River) and I loved it,” he says. I’m really excited about it because I love the play and the director and the cast.”

Jackman says he’s equally at home in film as he is in theatre these days.

“It took me 10 years to feel comfortable on a film set,” he says, “But I was lucky enough that people kept giving me roles, even when I stuffed them up.”

He’s certainly comfortable taking Tony Awards hosting duties, which he’ll do for the third time come June 8.

Unlike the Oscars, he says the Tonys are infinitely more laid-back. “It’s the most accepting, wonderful crowd you’ll ever get in your life so even if you’re dying in the a--- on TV, you’re not going to feel it in the room,” he says, laughing. “They really don’t care if you’re dying in the a---, people will still clap you and think you’re funny.”

[jo]

From the June issue of MEN'S HEALTH, where Hugh is on the cover -- Some Highlights!

www.menshealth.com/fitness/hugh-jackman

For Hugh Jackman, the intense preparation—whether it’s dropping weight for Les Miserables or training with Sugar Ray Leonard for Real Steel—is part of the performance, even when the cameras aren't rolling. For example, he always wants to give himself a solid three months to prepare for any role that might have him in the raw, which is often a possibility with anything Wolverine-related.

"There's a naked shot in this one," he says. "Not front naked—it's PG-13—but full-body. So I made it very clear that I wanted to know the date I'd be shooting that stuff.” When he heard that the day of shooting might be pushed back by a few weeks, Jackman wasn’t having it. “I said, 'Absolutely not! I don't care, you can push anything back you want, but I'm naked on that day!' "




Jackman also has an industry reputation as a generous gentleman. He listens. He engages. He respects.

Give credit to his father, who emphasized good etiquette: "Everything was very proper and English that way. So a lot of that chivalry was stuff I was taught at home. But then he'd actually talk to me about stuff like respect. Really, it's about having respect for people."





Feeling comfortable is a warning sign for Hugh Jackman. Taking a break, stepping out of the spotlight, or recharging are just never options. To push himself, he defines goals as single-minded pursuits that are limiting, while challenges can expand. Example: Can a man be in better shape for his signature role in 2013 than he was 10 years earlier? Watch The Wolverine and you see the answer.

"It wasn't until I came to a truce inside myself about the fact that my job rarely will be comfortable that I started to enjoy it more," he says. "Like Wolverine. You want to get somewhere you're not physically? It's going to be uncomfortable. The end result is good, but it's uncomfortable to change.”

[alma]

May 14, 2014 8:52:26 GMT -5 jo said:

Some interesting things he shares in this interview --

www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/movies/xmen-star-hugh-jackman-reveals-his-biggest-mistakes-and-the-gamble-everyone-thought-was-nuts/story-fnihm796-1226917330640



Thanks for the link to this article full of goodies, Jo. Included: a trailer of DoFP and a video of Hugh and Russell at a sing-along (The Confrontation). A bit below the picture of Wolverine with his bone claws out against young Charles Xavier is an Interactive Gallery they titled Hunky Hugh Jackman. Quite yummy. smiley-love067

Alma

[jo]

www.metro.us/newyork/entertainment/movies-entertainment/2014/05/14/interview-hugh-jackman-thinks-x-men-movies-getting-better/

Metro.us▶ Entertainment▶ Movies
By Matt PriggePublished: May 14, 2014

Interview: Hugh Jackman thinks the ‘X-Men’ movies are only getting better


"X-Men: Days of Future Past" is either Hugh Jackman's sixth or seventh turn as Wolverine, if you do or don't count his cameo in "X-Men: First Class." Credit: Getty Images“X-Men: Days of Future Past” is either Hugh Jackman’s sixth or seventh turn as Wolverine, if you do or don’t count his cameo in “X-Men: First Class.”


Hugh Jackman has a Band-Aid on his nose. This is a good thing: His doctor spied a bit of basal cell carcinoma on his nose. “It is a skin cancer, but if you’re going to get it, it’s the kind you want,” he says. It was actually found while Jackman was checking up on an earlier bout of the disease from six months ago. It was bound to happen: “I grew up in Australia. I have English parents and English skin.” It’s changed everything for him. “I went down to Australia this summer. It’s a whole different thing for me to actively try to stay out of the sun.”

But he’s supposed to be talking about super-strength. Jackman is in town to promote “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” based on the beloved 1981 two-issue run, which finds the Wolverine jumping to 1973 to change a bleak dystopian future. It’s Jackman’s sixth bout as easily-riled mutant Logan, aka Wolverine (seventh if you count a cameo in “X-Men: First Class”). In person, Jackman is as far from his most famous screen incarnation as possible (which is to say very approachable and talkative). And he’s not tired of him, even after 14 years.



What is it like staying with the same character for so long?

I’m weirdly enjoying it more than ever. I think the movies are getting better, the scripts are getting better. This one is based on the comic book, but it felt really organic in the way it celebrates the whole series. I love that it’s part comic book movie, part time travel movie. It reminds me of “Back to the Future.” And I’m the only one lucky enough to play both time periods, so I got to work with everyone.

Logan’s much more calm in this one, especially compared to how volatile he was in “The Wolverine.”

He’s been around. He’s come to a certain pace in himself, about his position, about his past, about who he is. It’s more about the team now. It’s taken him a long time to get to that point. I think it’s been well-earned, and I think after “The Wolverine] it feels natural. He gets to play a mentor/diplomat/guide/wise old sage role and not just have him flying off the handle every five seconds. I’ve been around long enough to know that this is a rare thing: to be able to play a character you love after all these years and still feel like it’s relevant, and not just old hat.


Where do you see him going in the future? Any surprising directions?

My son just saw the movie. He loved it; he just turned 14. He said, “Dad, I’ve got an idea for the next one. I think he should not be in any fights at all. I think he should just be a gardener, and he’s kind of cool but he’s really at peace.” And I said, “Now hang on: Good idea, but I think the Wolverine fans around the world want to see one little fight.” He said, “No. I think we’ve seen enough. I think he should just be calm.” [Laughs]


This was made soon after “The Wolverine,” too.

I did “Prisoners” in between. That had complications, because Denis [Villeneuve, “Prisoner”’s director] didn’t want a neighborhood father — who was supposed to be kind of an everyman — being completely jacked. And I was training every morning, a lot. I was training for this while I was shooting that. I never really told them. They kept looking at me when food was being delivered every two hours — all these chicken breasts. They had the sense to not even ask me. But Denis did cover me up. If you notice I’m always in long shirts. There were no tee-shirts. I complained about it after awhile, but it’s easier to stay in shape than to get into shape. That’s an old Will Smith quote. And it’s true.

Reaching out:

Jackman was a newbie to most when he was cast as Logan/Wolverine in the first “X-Men” from 2000. But he was already an established star of musicals, including playing Curly in “Oklahoma!” in London starting in 1998. Throughout he’s made a point at being versatile, doing dramas and epics and brainier thrillers, like “The Prestige.” One thing he’d like to do — or at least do more of — is romantic-comedies. “I did one, with ‘Kate & Leopold,’ a long time ago. I’d like to do that again.”

*Nice to know that Oscar is now showing more interest in what his Dad enjoys doing as a profession.

*Hmm...I wonder if a new film project, a rom-com, has already been offered or now tabled for discussion.

*Hope he is really taking all the precautions to keep the recurrence of his skin cancer problems to the very minimum. His family must be very concerned, too.


Jo

[natalieavery]

Not sure where to put this or if you've seen this already. Hugh playing Innuendo Bingo. Here's the link. Just scroll down to see the video.

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2630048/Hugh-Jackman-gets-wet-Kylie-Minogue-giggles-like-schoolgirl-naughty-radio-segment.html

[jo]

Hugh has such stamina doing one interview after another!

news.moviefone.com/2014/05/21/hugh-jackman-x-men-interview/

Hugh Jackman on Darren Aronofsky's 'Wolverine,' Passing on 'Drive,' and Prepping for 'Pan'


Posted May 21st, 2014 3:30PM
by Drew Taylor



This weekend's "X-Men: Days of Future" past features both the casts of the original "X-Men" films (including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Ellen Page), along with the cast of the swinging '60s-set "X-Men: First Class" (featuring younger actors like James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence) in a tale of karmic retribution and the knottier complexities of the space-time continuum that is honestly too complicated to get into right now. But what is worth getting into is who links the two disparate universes (and casts): Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.

Wolverine has always been the glue that has held the franchise together; not only has he starred in every movie and two spin-offs, but he also served as the novice mutant and audience surrogate as we entered this world of super-powered freaks, both good and bad. When "X-Men" opened way back in 2000, it was unlike anything anybody had seen. And Wolverine was a damn good wingman.

When we finally got to sit down and talk with Jackman, we were blown away by his candor, his humility, and the obvious care he gives this character. Sure, he can be nominated for Oscars and star in other blockbusters, but Wolverine was the character who gave him his career, and you can feel that he really respects that, still, so many sequels and spin-offs later.

Jackman talked about the possibility of returning to the X-franchise, what the differences between Darren Aronofsky's version of "The Wolverine" and the one eventually directed by James Mangold were, what's in store for us in Joe Wright's "Pan," and why he still hasn't seen "Drive," a movie that he was involved with intimately at one point (with "Game of Thrones" director Neil Marshall). It's a fascinating chat with one of the loveliest people working in movies today.

Moviefone: What the schedule like for this? Did you go right from "Wolverine" into "X-Men: Days of Future Past"?

Hugh Jackman: No, I did "Prisoners" in between. So we finished "Wolverine" at Christmas and started this in late April. So it was bang-bang-bang, but it meant that I could, luckily, stay in shape and prep some more.

So your last day, you're done with training -- what was the first thing that you ate?

Burger, fries, and chocolate shake. At this place in Montreal... I should give them a plug. The guy who owns the burger joint owns Ben & Jerry's. And the shake was like a Ben & Jerry's chocolate ice cream melted down. It was the greatest shake I've ever had. But that's the first thing. But, weirdly, at like 11 o'clock at night, I'll go, "Hmm, I want some breakfast cereal." Don't you love it? I love eating breakfast cereal at night.

Was there any trepidation about doing them so close together?

There was just some complaining because I found out in October and we finished near Christmas. And I was looking forward to some time off. Because there had been such a long lead-up to that; we kept delaying the movie. So I had been training and eating really well for over a year. So I was ready for it, but I was also ready for a break. I took about a week off when I finished that and then got back into it. But actually the moment I heard the idea, around October before we started filming, I was in. I knew it was a great idea. I saw the synopsis and I thought, This is awesome.

What was it like working with the same characters but played by different actors?

It was a little surreal but kind of fantastic. I always thought filling in Patrick's shoes would be really, really difficult. But then I saw "X-Men: First Class," I was like, Wow, they really did a good job. And then working with him and seeing how they developed that relationship, in this, I thought, not only did they pay homage to the other guys and you can feel that lineage, in a way, but they really make it their own. And that's a really difficult line to try and find. I was very impressed. Earlier today Patrick said, "Now that I've seen the movie, I want to go back and play more stuff for Xavier, because you get to see so much more of his character in this movie."

Wolverine being back in the past obviously offers endless possibilities for hijinks. Did you film a bunch of stuff that didn't make it into the movie?

Yes, because for me, the whole thing felt really natural for Wolverine. I've always said that Wolverine never left the seventies, even though he lives on and on -- clothing-wise, attitude-wise. He's Dirty Harry, he's Mad Max, he's Charles Bronson in "Death Wish." I think the moment the eighties arrived, he was out -- legwarmers, Flock of Seagulls, Tears for Fears, Wham!...

But he's kind of got a Flock of Seagulls thing going on with his hair.

Good point, good point. But yes, I made a lot of little comments about the seventies that ended up getting cut out.

Can you talk about what Darren Aronofsky's take on "The Wolverine" was going to be?

Darren was really impressed with what Jim did and said that he thought Jim did a better job than he could have done. He was very complimentary to the work that Jim did. But there was one thing that he said to me that I can remember. He said to me, "I don't think you've just got to be a little bit bigger. I think you've got to be fifty pounds bigger... and muscle-only." He had a really cool idea about scars. He said, "I want to see him completely scarred. I know he heals but if you think about it, we have a scar, we have a scar for life. It doesn't really get better. It might reduce over your lifetime but it also stays there."

So his whole thing was that he should have been completely scarred and disfigured and slowly they could go. Maybe what takes us a lifetime to get rid of would only take him a year-and-a-half. I thought that was a really cool idea. He had a couple of other really big ideas, some of which, by the way, made the movie.

So Darren Aronofsky's Wolverine was giant and covered in scars?

Yes. And I actually thought that was a good idea. But I couldn't have eaten more or trained harder for these movies, and I think I'm in the best shape ever, and I thought, I'm going to try that. And I just couldn't do it.

Is that a deciding factor in terms of deciding whether or not to go back and do another one -- having to get into that kind of physical shape?

Well, that I kind of feel like I could get back into that shape, if need be. But what Darren was asking me to do, I don't think so.

Did you see "Noah"?

Yes.

It was very much like "The Fountain."

Yes, there were certainly elements of that. I loved working with Darren. I would love to work with him again. Maybe I'll convince him to do a "Wolverine" movie at some point. We had a long discussion, Darren and I, as did Jim and I, about making "The Wolverine" R-rated.

I imagine the studio would not have allowed that.

They were open to it, actually. It didn't scare them off, as long as we have a good reason for it. I was the one to call it off. In a way, I would love to do it -- if there was ever a character that would necessitate an R-rated version. But I'm the one who, every day of my life, meets 12, 13, 14-year-olds. I see in their eyes how I used to feel about Indiana Jones. So for me to say, "You know what, this next movie, it's not for you" -- I would have to have a really good reason for it. So we made the movie without a rating in mind, and the first cut, let me tell you, we had trouble. It was definitely R-rated. So in the end, we just snuck on the side of it, but that's why we released the unrated cut on Blu-ray.

So what's the percentage possibility of you coming back for another "Wolverine"?

If I was a betting man? 90%. But what does that mean? I think what I've said has been slightly confusing for people. Can I see an end? Yes. Am I closer to the end than beginning? Yes. But I'm loving it more than ever, and when I see this movie it feels vital and fresh and interesting to me. And I look at that and say, "No, I want to be a part of that universe." The movies are getting better. And as long as they stay on that track and there's always new things to explore in the character, which is not only important for me but important for the audience, I think I'll still be around.

What if you took 20 years off and came back and did "Old Man Logan"?

That's crossed my mind. That's totally crossed my mind. By the way, Jim and I did look at "Old Man Logan," because I'm rapidly approaching it and when I'm training at 4 o'clock in the morning I think, That's the only story I can do. It's interesting. And I should be careful about saying, "Ah, I'm done." Because I could see myself doing a version of that, actually. Of just saying, "You know what, I'm done for now, and somebody could play the part, but down the track I could come back." That's very cool, actually.

Another movie you were involved in that became something completely different was "Drive."

Yeah...

What was that version of the movie like? And what did you think of the final version?

This is a character flaw of mine... But I still haven't seen it. I think it's going to be hard for me to watch, because it's the one that got away. I presume that it's relatively close. What happened was that there was another movie, and I can't remember what it was, but it was getting going and I said, "I think we need to work on the relationship. It still feels like something is missing."

I always felt the beginning of the movie was so strong, and I felt that we set up a promise that didn't fully deliver, so let's work on that, right? And then they came back and said, "We were going to do a budget at this level and now we're going to drop it down to here." I said, "Fine, that budget doesn't worry me except let's not forget that this character is explained through the driving. And he's smart – so how are we going to shoot that?" The next call that came back said, "We're going with this new director." And everything I kept hearing made me feel like I was holding this up. I'm going to keep asking questions and they're ready to go. I remember the next thing I heard about was, "Oh, by the way, that director just won Best Director at Cannes," and I was like, "Sh*t."

There was something really exciting about the movie, which is why I wanted to get involved in it. And one of the producers came to me and said, "I know you worked on it and we did three or four drafts but because you didn't work on the final version can we take your name off of it?" And I said, "Yeah. It's probably fair." And then when it came out I thought, Maybe that wasn't such a good idea either. But that's me being stingy. I will get around to watching it. I know it's going to be good but my palms will be sweating the whole time.


So the beard, I'm assuming, is for Blackbeard?

Yes. Or as my son likes to call me, "black-and-white beard." I'm like, "All right, there will be make-up involved."

How is "Pan" going?

Oh, it's great. I love Joe Wright. I love the way he preps a movie. I've seen a lot of the artwork and pre-viz for this, and it's going to blow people's minds. I think it's going to be really special.

Is he still maintaining that incredible visual sense?

Yes. But giving him the palette of Neverland is just awesome. It's so unique and beautiful that I said, "Joe, you need to release this pre-viz because it's one of the most beautiful pieces of art I've ever seen. It was a mixture of storyboards, slightly animated, computer animated pre-viz and it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I said, "Keep that. Whatever happens with the movie, I would pay to see that." He's so phenomenal and has such a great touch, with a sense of humor and panache.

Have you talked about working with your "Prisoners" director Denis Villeneuve again?

Yes. I just had dinner with him in Montreal when we were doing pick-ups for this. And we talk and email all the time. And I always say, "Don't forget me."

[JH4HJ]

An interview during publicity in China for the latest X-Men movie, but that topic is hardly mentioned. . .
'Wolverine' Talks Time Travel and Underrated Roles
Click here for video

[JH4HJ]

Not too recent, judging by Hugh's hair/beard and recommendation of Book of Mormon as a "new/hot" Broadway show. No idea of the venue. Hugh, and Deb, mostly talking about food. . . - just something I had not seen before.

[birchie]

Aug 5, 2014 11:20:33 GMT -5 JH4HJ said:

Not too recent, judging by Hugh's hair/beard and recommendation of Book of Mormon as a "new/hot" Broadway show. No idea of the venue. Hugh, and Deb, mostly talking about food. . . - just something I had not seen before.

Ever gracious Hugh kept trying to include Jean-Georges & wife Marja, sounds like they were there to celebrate something related to her. It cracked me up about 4 minutes in when someone on the left shoved a recording device in his face and said "What's your name?"
Thanks for sharing this Valerie, I don't remember seeing it before either.
Sue

[jo]

The way to a long unplanned interview is through asking him about things of the stomach - LOL!

That was very gracious of Hugh - to stop by for so long for an unexpected interview.

Maybe they were about to go into one of Jean Georges's restaurants in NYC?

Jo

[mamaleh]

Pretty sure I'd seen that video before--I remember the line about "Don't rock the baby" and Ava's liking white foods. Haven't seen it since then. Anyway, it's always good to revisit a time when Hugh had hair.

Ellen

[birchie]

Aug 5, 2014 23:36:12 GMT -5 mamaleh said:

<snip>
...Anyway, it's always good to revisit a time when Hugh had hair.

Ellen

I just about fell off my chair when I read this!!!
Thanks, Ellen, you made my day!
Sue

[mamaleh]

LOL, just joking. It'll be back.

Ellen

[jo]

He said he is hoping it will grow back, on his instagram message

thehughjackman
13 minutes ago
Yes, Mum ... it is for a film I'm working on called PAN. I'm playing Blackbeard. Yes, it'll grow back. (Ummm, I hope!) #PAN @warnerbros

He teases


Jo

[jo]

Somebody from the SouthChinaMorningPost.com caught up with Hugh when he was in Florence recently --

www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1571163/chic-chat-hugh-jackman

Chic Chat with Hugh Jackman

Recently on set for his Blackbeard role in Pan- an adaptation of children’s story Peter Pan, Hollywood heartthrob Hugh Jackman is almost unrecognisable because of his rather sinister beard. We caught up with Jackman last month in Florence to talk about filming, charity and a secret diary he kept for his kids.




Q: How do you enjoy shooting the film Pan?

A: The film is ten weeks on the shooting and I’ve only shot about two weeks. So I’m really just beginning my little run at them, but I’m loving it, enjoying it, enjoying no one recognizing me as well.

Q: You know for five seconds there I couldn’t recognise you because of your beard.

A: I was touring in Florence on my bike today.

Q: So when was the last time that you wrote letter? I noticed that you are pretty active on twitter.

A: I write for my children quite a bit. My wife gave me a diary for both my children, so on their 21st birthday I will hand them a diary that I’ve written.

Q: I noticed that you’ve quite involved in a lot of social causes to poverty, what drove you to this cause?

A: My father he’s an accountant. He worked quite a while for the World Bank. During that period, he spent a lot of time in Bangladesh, Korea when I was growing up. I grew up hearing all about his trips. And it just feels that [the poverty] is a man-made problem. It’s not caused by lack of food for the seven billion people, or lack of opportunities, it’s a man-made problem. So I feel that, if you are the part of the solution you are part of the problem. That’s why I tried as best I can.

Q: Where’s your base now?

A: New York. My kids are in school in New York. I do a lot of theatre, and I’ve done that on and off sometimes as my wife is in New York, that’s why we are living there. It’s a great city and I love it. And the city is close to London and it’s easy, it’s not close to Australia unfortunately.

Q: Why theatre?

A: I’m going back to theatre on a play in September on Broadway for The River. I do quite a lot of performing, I did my one-man show quite a few years ago, I just hosted the Tony a month ago.

Q: Is it difficult picking projects now?

A: Yeah. I’m indecisive that way. It’s not a luxury that everything’s gonna happen, but the greatest luxury that I can have is [having] choices. But still, sometimes it’s hard.

Q: We talked about the social causes and you were saying that you heard a lot of stories from your father, how are you pass that down to your children?

A: I’m taking them on trips to Cambodia, with World Vison. During those trips, they actually get to see the world. Both of them are very social, I think actually the youth today are more aware of that the planet is a interconnected thing. You don’t preach them that much. Kids just get it.

Q: They want to make a difference now, you can find that.

A: My father as he was retiring, he said the biggest difference now, is when you hire graduates, the first thing they ask is about your corporate social responsibility that’s the first question. Not do I get a car? Not what can I expect all about that. I think the youth today are really doing amazing things, not on the poverty [issue] alone, but the environment and more.

[jo]

Link borrowed from another Hugh fansite, transcript of chat before Days of Future Past --

liveblog.nydailynews.com/Event/Chat_with_Hugh_Jackman_star_of_X-Men_Days_of_Future_Past

Chat with Hugh Jackman, star of 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'


Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (Credit: Alan Markfield/20th Century Fox)

"X-Men: Days of Future Past" star Hugh Jackman, aka Wolverine, the mutton chop sporting member of the mutant team, will be on hand Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. to answer your questions in an exclusive live web chat with the New York Daily News.

The Tony winner and Oscar nominee will answer your questions on the secrets behind the movie, his backstage anecdotes from Broadway and more.

Start the ball rolling by submitting your questions now in the comments field below or tweeting them to #NYDNChat.





We're about to get underway with Hugh Jackman!

by New York Daily News via Instagram May 22 at 12:26 AM
..




Welcome everyone to a very special Daily News live web chat -- with the one and only Hugh Jackman. While there are other actors who can also be called stars of stage and screen, no one else can claim to be an above the marquee star in a superhero epic like "X-Men: Days of Future Past," which opens Friday, and then host the Tony Awards just a couple of weeks later on June 8. But before all that, he's ready to answer your questions. So let's get started ...

by Ethan Sacks May 22 at 12:28 AM
..






by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:29 AM
..




How many people have you accidentally injured with the wolverine claws? Follow up: How many intentionally?

by Riley R. edited by Kristen A. Lee May 22 at 12:30 AM
..




First part: including myself, three. But one of those I injured twice. Once stabbing this woman, and once hitting her in the face. And I actually liked her. Part two: never. Not on screen anyway.

by Hugh Jackman edited by Kristen A. Lee May 22 at 12:30 AM
..




What kind of music do you listen to or what do you think about to get you in the mood to shoot an intense action scene as Wolverine?

by Snikt May 22 at 12:30 AM
..




Godsmack. AC/DC. Midnight Oil, an Aussie band. Eminem.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:31 AM
..




How do you prepare physically for 'X-Men'? Do you eat a big burger when it's done?

by Samantha Grimmie May 22 at 12:31 AM
..




Yes, to the latter part. And fries and a shake in about 7 seconds flat. Minimum of six months before shooting, I eat 6,000 calories a day and 2 1/2 hours of training, split into two sessions.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:32 AM
..




Would you fight an actual Wolverine for charity?

by Don McG May 22 at 12:32 AM
..




No. I love to give back, but I'm sure that's wrong on all sorts of levels.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:32 AM
..




What was it like to work with both the "original" and "new" X-Men casts on the new movie?

by XMen Fan May 22 at 12:32 AM
..




To work with the original cast, it was an amazing reunion that none of us ever saw happening. And the younger cast were brilliant actors. No egos. So much fun.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:33 AM
..




How much further do you want to take your WWE appearances? Would you ever appear in a match? Who would you want for a tag team partner?

by Joel May 22 at 12:33 AM
..




I used to go when I was 17 in Sydney to watch what was then the WWF. Was obsessed by it. Back then, yes, I would have loved to have had a wrestling career. But now, no. I'm way too old and pampered.

by Hugh Jackman edited by Kristen A. Lee May 22 at 12:34 AM
..




You're back on Broadway in the fall in 'The River,' which producer Sonia Friedman described to us as "very intimate, a tone poem." What drew you to this Jez Butterworth work?

by Bwaybound May 22 at 12:35 AM
..




The writing. The fact that it's new, unexpected and I think audiences will have no idea what that 90 minutes is going to bring.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:35 AM
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And Ian Rickson, the director, is sensational.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:36 AM
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If you could have the power of any X-Man (or woman) in real life, which would you choose?

by Naomi Ayla May 22 at 12:36 AM
..




I would choose Blink in this movie. To be able to jump through portals, to teleport, so I could swim every morning in Bondi Beach, take my kids to school in New York, visit my family and friends in Australia for a long lunch, pick my kids up from school, and take my wife out to dinner in Paris. And no security lines at the airport. (No offense TSA!)

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:37 AM
..




How hard was it to sing live for Les Miserable? Did you ever have doubts that you could pull it off?

by Miss Les Mis May 22 at 12:37 AM
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Yeah, I had doubts. I actually think it's good to have doubts. It means you're stretching yourself, challenging yourself. It was very difficult. But the alternative which is miming... much harder.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:38 AM
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I know you have a naked scene in this movie, so how tough is it for you to shoot? Do you secretly squeeze an extra session at the gym before the cameras start rolling?

by HUGH-E Fan May 22 at 12:38 AM
..




You have no idea what goes into the lead up to a scene like that. It was a year ago. I know that exactly because it was May 21. I stopped drinking water for 24 hours, I pumped up on set for about an hour before shooting. And fell asleep by 2 o'clock.

by Hugh Jackman edited by Kristen A. Lee May 22 at 12:39 AM
..




Superfan here! Love your movies and have been lucky enough to see your fabulous shows on Broadway. How do you find the time to do it all and still find time for your beautiful family?

by Roxy May 22 at 12:39 AM
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That's the trickiest juggling act of all. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don't. I have a very understanding wife who constantly reminds me to say "No" occasionally.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:40 AM
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May 22 at 12:40 AM

Twitter
ILoveHimDealWithIt

@micky_402

@nydnentertain @nydailynews @realhughjackman #NYDNChat on what set you had the most fun in your career?



.




This movie. That cast, with the original and the younger cast, have far too much fun. That, and hosting "SNL."

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:40 AM
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Are you tired of playing Wolverine? You are great with this character, please don't make the same mistake like Christian Bale did by not playing Batman again.

by Chris edited by Kristen A. Lee May 22 at 12:41 AM
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I'm enjoying it more than ever. The scripts are getting better. I think this movie is probably the best of the lot. I love it.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:41 AM
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I am working on the third Wolverine movie with James Mangold. It's never official until the script is finished.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:42 AM
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What did you think the first time you saw yourself in the mirror with those Wolverine muttonchops?

by EJS May 22 at 12:42 AM
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In normal life, they look very odd. But actually as the character, it felt weirdly very right. It felt pretty cool.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:43 AM
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Wolverine vs Hulk. Who wins?!??!

by Zhi May 22 at 12:43 AM
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Maybe I'm biased, but Wolverine wins every time. Although I don't think it would be a knockout - it would be a points decision in the end. I can't see either of them giving up.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:44 AM
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Your cancer scare is sobering for me as someone who loves the sun. How did you find out about it and any advice for people like me to avoid the same situation?

by Bubba May 22 at 12:44 AM
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My makeup artist on this movie spotted it. And my wife "encouraged" me to get a checkup. Thank God she did. Get regular checkups every 12 months, and wear sunscreen.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:44 AM
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Besides filming and working out, what do you like to do during your spare time?

by Taylor Thomas May 22 at 12:45 AM
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My family. My favorite thing to do with my family is go to the beach. We're all water lovers. Swimming, hiking, playing soccer with my kids.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:45 AM
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Considering the success of NBC's live remake of "The Sound of Music" and their plans to remake "The Music Man," would you be willing to participate in such a production? If so, is there a specific musical you would like to tackle live?

by Maria May 22 at 12:45 AM
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I don't know, I think it's exciting that audiences want to see it. I am working on a filmed musical right now so I'm concentrating on that first. But you never know.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:46 AM
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What is your favorite part about living in New York?

by UWS dad May 22 at 12:46 AM
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The fact that any day, when you leave your apartment, you can only know half of what might occur. It's always surprising.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:46 AM
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Hugh, your last two outings as Wolverine have been adaptations of acclaimed storylines (namely The Japan Adventure in The Wolverine and Days of Future Past). Are there any classic X-Men/Wolverine stories you'd particularly love to see coming to the big screen?

by SpectacularSean May 22 at 12:47 AM
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I love Old Man Logan. I'd like to think I'm a few years off that, but perhaps I'm approaching that faster than I'd like to think.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:47 AM
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May 22 at 12:47 AM

Twitter


@eviewilsonny

@nydnentertain @realhughjackman You are in fantastic shape. Do you have any indulgences? #NYDNCHAT



.
When training, coffee and dark chocolate. When I finish training, everything on the menu. Literally.

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:48 AM
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What was your best and worst moment on the stage? And what does doing live theater mean for you as an actor?

by Broadway Bill May 22 at 12:48 AM
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My best moment on the stage would be the closing night from "The Boy From Oz." That was an unforgettable experience. My worst moment is also my most embarrassing moment: when I peed my pants onstage. It's a long story.

by Hugh Jackman edited by Kristen A. Lee May 22 at 12:49 AM
..


We have time for one more question...

by Ethan Sacks May 22 at 12:49 AM
..


Now that your kids are old enough to see the X-Men movies, what's it like seeing these movies through their eyes? Must be cool to see your son play with you as an action figure...

by Peaches May 22 at 12:50 AM
..




It is actually really cool to watch it with them until you get to the moment where you're naked onscreen and you forgot to warn your almost 9-year-old daughter. And she says "Dad, why aren't you wearing underwear?"

by Hugh Jackman May 22 at 12:50 AM
..




..Thanks everyone for tuning in. Check out "X-Men: Days of Future Past" in theaters this Friday.

by Ethan Sacks May 22 at 12:54 AM

[jo]

Latest interview ( as he was filming PAN), with Vulture --

www.vulture.com/2014/08/hugh-jackman-fly-fishes-his-way-to-the-river.html

Today at 8:00 AM
Comment

Hugh Jackman on The River, Zumba, and His Ice Bucket Challenge
By Rebecca Milzoff




To the world, he’s Wolverine; to New Yorkers, he may always be the singing, dancing, blindingly high-wattage musical star of The Boy From Oz and his one-man show Back on Broadway. This fall, though, he’s in a lower-key theater role, playing a character known simply as the Man in The River, a tightly coiled one-act (about fly-fishing, no less) by Jerusalem playwright Jez Butterworth. He spoke with Vulture from the set of Pan.


I just watched you doing the Ice Bucket Challenge with the enitre cast of Pan. It was in the middle of a barren field and very dramatic.

Yes. Really cold field, let me tell ya. Rooney Mara was almost blue, I think. We’re shooting in Cardington, which is in Bedford just north of London.


I must start off by telling you — we have done Zumba together before.

Oh, you’re kidding me. That’s right, it’s at the Equinox at Greenwich, in the West Village. Yes! My wife was doing it, and I was sitting on one of the cardio machines looking in like, why am I sitting on this thing? I went in and joined that class and it was fun actually.


You were quite enthusiastic.

Come on! It’s Zumba! You can’t do Zumba halfhearted. Do it enthusiastically or get out, isn’t that the deal?


Well, people certainly go insane when you sing and dance. When you do something like Back on Broadway that gets such a huge reaction, does it make you want to do something in the opposite direction — like this play — next?

I don’t know if I think that way actually. Certainly, in general I miss theater and want to get back more to that, but weirdly I'm enjoying film more and I think acting in general more now. There is a high when a musical is working; when you’re onstage singing in front of a crowd, the applause is very visceral, it’s ultimately an emotional response. The drug of that kind of audience enthusiasm is one I’d be reluctant to let go of. But I think what’s driving me now more than anything is to do new material. I get really excited to go and see a play or musical I know nothing about — like I saw Fun Home recently, that thrilled me. I obviously like revivals, too, but it’s hard to get your mind or part of your mind away from comparisons. There’s a great joy in discovering new material.


Why do you think acting has felt more enjoyable lately?
So many things happened to me early on — for instance, it was a huge shock to me when I first did a musical in Australia, because I trained as an actor. I thought I’d do straight theater if anything. And then there were movies and it was, “Okay, well, I didn’t expect that.” But I thin
k having done it for 15 or 20 years now, having managed to practice at it I suppose, maybe I feel a little more confident than I did originally. Not over-confident, don’t worry about that. But confident enough to look forward to the challenge and not feel overwhelmed. Maybe it’s some form of mid-life thing, realizing, hey, this is a great play this is New York, make the most of it. I’m just feeling a great balance between the challenge of things and also the enjoyment of it.


It’s odd to think of a time when musicals weren’t your thing. I imagine people are knocking down your door to do musicals.

It’s the most bizarre thing to me. I always think of the first singing teacher I had who my agent sent me to, Martin Croft. There was an audition for Beauty and the Beast she wanted me to go to, and I said, “No, Penny, I’m an actor,” and she was like, “Just go see Martin Croft, he’s a performer, he’s in Les Miz at the moment.” So I went to see him and we were singing and he’s looking at me going, “You sing in a weird way ... you sing differently from how you speak. What music do you listen to?” And he said, it sounds like you’re just copying what you hear on the radio. We worked for another threeweeks, and I was getting really frustrated, and eventually he said, “Sing it like this” and I thought, well, I’ll just copy him. And he was like, “Whoa, what was that? That’s great! For the audition, copy me!” So every time we did a lesson, he’d sing a song and then we’d work on it. Just like trying to impersonate someone, that’s all it was, and I literally scraped through the audition. Luckily I read first. I think they were scraping the barrel a bit, and I’m guessing I’m the only actor in history who had it in my contract that I had to have a singing lesson once a week — they hired me on the condition of the improvement of my voice. And really I was just impersonating better and better. It’s funny when I hear now, “Oh everyone wants you in a musical.” [Laughs.] If Martin Croft could hear that!


Do you still regularly take voice lessons?

Oh absolutely. In terms of musicals, I really only started to really genuinely enjoy singing in public about four or five years ago. I think it took me ten years to get over feeling like I was copying Martin Croft, or that I was a fraud. More than anything I think I’ve learned that singing is actually more natural than you think, I just had to get out of my own way.


What was your first meeting with Jez Butterworth like? He’s this strange combination of being a dark playwright who also writes blockbuster movies .

Jez is very kind of .., he has a demeanor of someone who’s like, “Oh, gee, thanks for inviting me to lunch.” I’m like, man! You wrote this incredible play! He’s very off the back foot. One of the first things I asked him was what motivated him to write this story — because I was really affected by the story emotionally, which doesn’t always happen. And he said he wanted to give goosebumps. It’s mysterious, you don’t know what’s happening next, you’re not 100 percent sure where the actors or the writer is going to go to the point where it gives you goosebumps. But I just loved he has a child’s quality, of being very curious, very humble.


Did you see Jerusalem?

I thought that was extraordinary. And again, it was one of those rare experiences where you walk in not knowing what to expect and, wow, you’re completely transported and blown away. I got the sense there’s that possibility with this play as well. But I actually think they’re very different. I think he deliberately wanted to write something quite different; ours is much shorter, like 89 minutes. In Jerusalem, Rooster is a very bombastic, larger-than-life character. This is not like that, it’s in a way like a piece of chamber music; it’s more subtle, there’s a poetic edge to it, though I think Jerusalem had that too. There’s obviously a love of poetry in Jez’s blood. But that also hooks into his love of fishing! That is something I knew nothing about, and I'm learning a hell of a lot about fly fishing.


I was going to say — fishing is rather central to the play, are you an outdoorsman of any sort?

Well I’m a mad lover of the outdoors, but I didn’t grow up with fishing. My son is madly into it, so I’m happy now to go out with him. I’m in a bit of trouble because I took him to Montana in March and said, you know, let’s fly fish, it’ll be a father son trip, but come October he’s going to realize it was a research trip. I’ll make it a few months before I get slapped around a bit.


It seems like a very oddly Zen thing, fly fishing?

It’s an extraordinary kind of endeavor, very human — how to take something that’s really about survival and make it harder than it has to be. [Laughs.] There is a beauty to it; it’s really becoming one with the fish, understanding the fish, how to seduce them to the end of your line. How to catch something without any bait, there’s something really beautiful about it. Jez has used it both literally and metaphorically in the play. It is sensual, I should say. Everyone who does it talks about how their mind goes blank, it’s like a form of meditation. And the people who do it, it’s like a drug to them — you’re connected to something very elemental in nature, and I think that’s what the play explores.


The play does have a quietness about it — is keeping things at that kind of level a challenge for you?

Yeah. Maybe I’ve done too many action movies. But there are no explosions, I guarantee — no shirts come off, I’m pretty sure. [Laughs.] No, it is different in every way. It’s the kind of play I haven’t seen in a long period of time. Literally from the moment it opens, you’re brought into a world where the audience will feel almost uncomfortable to be there — it’s very private, very interior. It really asks, when you find someone in life, are we actually just trying to recapture something we’ve lost, or is it real. The play twists and turns a lot, but in a very subtle, quiet, mysterious way. I’m excited about being in a play with that kind of calm, and requires you to sort of calmly let go of your life and connect with the play. And the fact that we’re doing it in the round? It’s going to be very intimate.


Yeah, you’re playing at I think one of the smallest theaters on Broadway I think …

The Circle in the Square. I should tell you, the first play I ever saw on Broadway — I had standing room only tickets to see Al Pacino in Huey. I’ll never forget it; we attempted to go three days in a row. They had eight tickets up for grabs they’d give at ten o'clock in the morning. The first morning we went there at eight, the line was already 20 deep. The second morning we went at seven, on the third day I was there at five-thirty in the morning with my wife, and we were numbers seven and eight in the line. So we got to know all those people pretty well. We got to the play, just as the lights went down the usher said, “There’s two seats down in the second row, would you like them?” I thought, This is the greatest day ever. It was again a one-act play. We were up so early, my wife fell asleep about ten minutes into the play. Al Pacino was no more than eight feet away from my wife, staring straight at her. Be warned, if you come and fall asleep I know I will see you. But given my experience, I’ll forgive you.


I know you have some very exciting facial hair right now [he has a crazy moustache and goatee and is bald for his role in Pan, as Bluebeard]. Will you be keeping that for the play?

Yeah, I doubt it. I went to Disney World with my daughter as a birthday present, and the great thing was no one recognized me. I was on the water slides, and I’d gone up about five times, and this girl kept looking at me, and I thought she was recognizing me. Then she goes, “Man, your facial hair rocks. You look like a goddamn pirate.” I was like, yeah, I like pirates! So every time I went down, which was another 20 times, I heard “Go, pirate, go!” It was fun. But yeah, I have a feeling if you’re a girl and you go to a remote fishing cabin on a moonless night with a guy with a bald head and facial hair like that, you’re probably going to run the other way.

[jo]

Broadway.com paraphrases the interview feature --

www.broadway.com/buzz/177314/zumba-fly-fishing-shaving-habits-six-things-we-learned-about-the-river-star-hugh-jackman-today/

Please check out the original article for working links to other features.

Zumba, Fly Fishing & Shaving Habits: Six Things We Learned About The River Star Hugh Jackman Today

News By Ryan McPhee September 2, 2014 - 1:33PM


Hugh Jackman


We’re a day late (once again) on #ManCrushMonday, but yesterday was a holiday, so we at least have an excuse. This week, we’re (respectfully) ogling stage and screen fave Hugh Jackman. The Tony and Broadway.com Audience Choice Award winner returns to the Great White Way this fall in Jez Butterworth’s The River at the Circle in the Square Theatre. In the spirit of going back to school and thanks to Vulture, we’ve been studying up on the Aussie hunk. From his unexpected workout activity to the fate of his beard (and shirt) here’s what we learned today!

1. He's a Zumba freak
What’s the secret to that ripped body? Zumba. Equinox at Greenwich. “My wife was doing it,” Jackman explains, “I went in and joined that class and it was fun actually.” But like any of his performances, things get extreme. “You can’t do Zumba halfhearted. Do it enthusiastically or get out.” We’re picturing a very strange combination of this and this.

2. His Les Miz roots go way back
Before reaching A-list status, Jackman auditioned for Beauty and the Beast in Australia. He obviously got the gig, but only under the condition that his singing improved. His voice teacher at the time was Martin Croft, who was in the ensemble of Les Miserables down under at the time. “Every time we did a lesson, he’d sing a song and then we’d work on it. Just like trying to impersonate someone, that’s all it was.” Wait. So how much of your Valjean is you and how much is you as Croft? Who are you, Jackman?

3. He uses his family (for research)
In The River, Jackman plays a fly fisher, and the role has led to some extensive character research. “I’m in a bit of trouble,” Jackman admits, “because I took [my son] to Montana in March and said, you know, let’s fly fish, it’ll be a father son trip, but come October he’s going to realize it was a research trip.” There’s nothing wrong with killing two birds with one stone. Or casting two flies with one rod. Or something.

4. The shirt's staying on
The River isn’t exactly X-Men: Days of Future Past. “There are no explosions, I guarantee—no shirt come off, I’m pretty sure,” Jackman says. Sorry, Idina Menzel. It looks like you’re gonna have to get your chest hair fix somewhere else. Here’s a start.

5. He's tolerant toward theater snoozers
The first play Jackman saw on Broadway was Hughie starring Al Pacino, coincidentally at the Circle in the Square. Unfortunately, the early morning rush line got the best of his wife, and she dozed off ten minutes into the play. “Be warned,” he says, “if you come and fall asleep, I know I will see you. But given my experience, I’ll forgive.” How merciful! We’ve all been there; just don’t let Zach Braff catch you.

6. His facial hair game is on point
There was that crazy beard in Les Miz. There’s that crazy beard in Pan. But for The River, we’ll probably see a relatively clean-shaven Jackman on stage. “If you’re a girl and you go to a remote fishing cabin on a moonless night with a guy with a bald head and facial hair like that, you’re probably going to run the other way.” Ugh, you’re so insightful. Now show us your Zumba moves?

Re Martin Croft's influence - was he the one who taught Hugh how to sing STARS ? Did he suggest it because Hugh's vocal range was high-baritone ( Javert's range was more baritonal than tenorish). That was supposedly Hugh's audition song for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, but the musical director of the musical had reportedly told Hugh that it was not a suitable audition song for him. Also, I wonder when Hugh was supposed to have been offered the role of Javert in the stage version of Les Miserables in Australia, which he had reportedly turned down. Quite a long road for Hugh to eventually becoming the main hero ( Valjean) of the film adaptation!

Will Hugh do some zumba moves in a future interview


Jo

[JH4HJ]

This looks like a hodgepodge - but there might be a few new bits.

[jo]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrVl-y4md9A

Not sure if this has been posted -- it is the interview by Whoopi Goldberg of the "amazing, fabulous, gorgeous" Hugh Jackman on THE VIEW!

He talks about THE RIVER mainly and CHAPPIE and PAN briefly.

[jo]

An old interview which I have not read before --


www.grubstreet.com/2011/10/hugh-jackman-coffee-line-launch-interview.html?utm_content=buffer14c02&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Hugh Jackman on His New Coffee Shop, Paul Newman, and Being BFFs With Jean-Georges
By Alyssa Shelasky




He's highly caffeinated ... and it's his birthday! Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images



Today at ABC Kitchen, Hugh Jackman orchestrated a little love-fest to launch his new Laughing Man Coffee & Tea line, an entirely nonprofit venture inspired by a 2009 trip to Ethiopia that Jackman hopes will soon be changing lives. (And not just for bleary-eyed New Yorkers.) We sat down with the Real Steel star to talk about his coffee line and soon-to-open shop, Paul Newman's influence on the new project, and Jackman's plans to make his son marry Jean-Georges's daughter.


Let's get to the point: Is Jean-Georges your best friend?

Yeah, and by the way, I keep telling my son, "Find a way to marry his child." Because we need to cement this relationship. We're neighbors and great friends, but I need it to be permanent. Chloe [J.G.'s daughter] and my son, that's the project we're working on.

Was it J.G. who inspired Laughing Man?

Paul Newman did, actually. Eight years ago, I read the book written by his partner, and at that point, I thought, some day, I'd like to start that sort of business that gives back and has longevity. In every way, I look up to Paul Newman. From acting, to the way he handled himself; he's just authentic. We want to make money and create jobs, but the profits after that, entirely going to charity.

Being a self-proclaimed foodie, what's on your "It" list right now?

I like the Monkey Bar — I like Graydon's style. I like Nobu, Orsay, Barbuto. We do find ourselves at J.G.'s places a lot, we really do. And Perry Street restaurant on the bottom of our building? Um, yeah, they deliver. And by the way, we do that a lot.

What's the scene going to be like at the Laughing Man shop, opening next week on Duane Street?

First and foremost, you can get a great, great cup of coffee. And for any Aussies out there, we have a thing called a "flat white," which is like a latte with a little less milk and more espresso. Our barista is trained by me on how to make it exactly.

It seems only fitting that restaurateur is in your future.

I'm not sure. I watch J.G. and he never stops. He is always moving. I seriously do not know how he does it. He cooks all weekend, too, like, for fun. It doesn't even compare to a Broadway show. A show is an intense period, but from 11 p.m. until two o'clock the next afternoon, I'm like a bear, snoring, whatever. I mean, just look at him go ...

(And just like that, J.G. lights a homemade marshmallow-frosted birthday cake for Hugh's birthday today, and the room starts to sing ... )

[jo]

An ESPN chatroom interview  from the days when he was promoting Real Steel --

espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/40608

Welcome to SportsNation! On Wednesday, actor Hugh Jackman chats about his latest film "Real Steel" that hits theaters Friday.

Jackman plays Charlie Kenton, a washed up fighter who lost his chance at a boxing title when the sport went hi-tech. The 2,000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots pushes Kenton to small-time promoting. He reluctantly teams with his son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. The stakes get raised and Charlie and Max get one last shot at a comeback.

Send your questions now and join Jackman Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. ET!

More "Real Steel": You Tube | Facebook | SteelGetReal.com | Previous chats




Buzzmaster (3:27 PM)



Actor Hugh Jackman will be here at 3:45 p.m. ET to take your questions. His new movie "Real Steel" hits theaters Friday!


Buzzmaster (3:42 PM)



We're on hold right now waiting for Hugh....about four minutes away!


Buzzmaster (3:45 PM)



Hugh is here!


Kevin (CT)



Did you have fun prepping and training for this movie or was all of the boxing stuff hard?

Hugh Jackman (3:46 PM)



I loved it, because I was working with Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the greatest of all time. It's great to be in a boxing movie where you're not getting hit all of the time.


Matt (Sandusky, OH)



You play a washed up boxer in your new film, "Real Steel," in theaters this Friday! What is your favorite sport to play when you are not busy acting?

Hugh Jackman (3:47 PM)



Hmmmmm.....Now, I would say my favorite sport would be skiing. When I was growing up, it was cricket and rugby.


Shawn (LA)



Since your birthday is in a week, do you have any Birthday plans?

Hugh Jackman (3:47 PM)



I'm sharing a birthday party on Sunday with one of my best friends. Going to go and eat some great food and drink some great wine. My two indulgences.


Jeff (RI)



This seems to be a very different movie than you've made in the past....how did you enjoy doing something so different?

Hugh Jackman (3:48 PM)



Yeah, I've never played a father on screen. It's nice to be in an action movie where I'm not doing all of the action. And it's a family movie. I say that in the broadest sense. My wife, mother in law and kids sat at the first screening and all loved. And it's a sports movie. I love sports. It reminds me of the sports movies I had when I was growing up like Rocky.


Larry (chicago)



Whats next? any plans, Movies, places?

Hugh Jackman (3:49 PM)



Next thing I'm doing a one man show "Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway." Then I'm doing a movie of Les Miserables. Then Wolverine.


Nick (MN)



Can you unleash to wolverine to David Stern and the NBA?

Hugh Jackman (3:49 PM)



It would be good. But if he played he would puncture a few basketballs.


Hugh Jackman (3:50 PM)



I believe they'll play.


Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)



Hugh, Who do you think is going to win the World Series?

Hugh Jackman (3:50 PM)



I'm living in New York. I'm a new Yankees fans. Having said that, I saw two games against the Tigers. I hope New York wins that one and goes all of the way.


Jeremy (CT)



Hugh, it's my anniversary Friday....how do I convince my wife that your movie is the one we see when we go out?

Hugh Jackman (3:51 PM)



Good question. I think the great thing about this movie is probably more than what the women expect. They might see robot boxing and expect that. But there is a lot of father-son relationship stuff in in. My wife elbowed me and said I thought this was a robot boxing movie. But guys and girls really like it.


Larry (chicago)



What do you like to do in your free time?

Hugh Jackman (3:52 PM)



Well, I love to travel. We've just spent a month in a really long road trip in France, which was phenomenal. I like to play sports. Tennis. I go down to the table tennis club down here and play ping pong. I like to meditate. I love to go to the theater. I ride my bike around the city a lot. I love watching sports.


Mike (DC)



Favorite boxer all time?

Hugh Jackman (3:53 PM)



I would say probably it's a tie between Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.


Hugh Jackman (3:53 PM)



Sugar Ray did something that no one else has done in being champion in five different weight classes.


Smack (Orlando)



do robot mo-hawks really add an intimidation factor in the ring?

Hugh Jackman (3:54 PM)



(laughs) Sure! It just seemed to go with that character. The guy who he's modeled after is Garret Warren. He's a bad-ass dude. He wears a patch and he only has one eye. He doesn't have a mohawk, but he should.


Julian (Chicago, IL)



Do you know if they will be marketing a new line of rock-em-sock-em style robots to accomodate Atom, Noisy Boy, Ambush, and Midas?

Hugh Jackman (3:55 PM)



BTW, great game! I only played it for the first time two weeks ago. I do think after this movie for sure there will be a new line coming out. It might need an upgrade.


Mike (DC)



How many situps do you do a day?

Hugh Jackman (3:56 PM)



I was doing a lot of boxing every day. One thing you don't realize about boxing is how tough it is on your core. I was pretty sore from that. It kept me fit. I think boxing keeps you fitter than anything.


Hugh Jackman (3:56 PM)



Maybe rowing...I don't know.


Kurt (Chicago, IL)



Hugh, do you agree with Sugar Ray that the premise of this movie in "very plausable" in the near future? Because i do not.

Hugh Jackman (3:56 PM)



This movie is 2020. Maybe not 9 years from now. I could see it. Boxing is starting to fade in popularity with the rise of MMA and UFC. Robots allow people to have pure violence.


Matty-Ice (Detroit)



How did you like your time in Michigan?

Hugh Jackman (3:57 PM)



Loved it man! That's a great city. Loved all of the sports. Lions. Tigers. We went out on the lakes water skiing. We went up to Ann Arbor. We went up north. I had my family with me and we loved it.


Hugh Jackman (3:58 PM)



I'm an ESPN fan myself. I feel like I have a bit in common with all of you today that logged on. I love sports. I'm sure if you like sports you'll dig this movie.


Buzzmaster (3:58 PM)



Thanks for chatting Hugh!

*Maybe his love of sports and his preference for skiing was one of the reasons why he is going to do the movie about EDDIE THE EAGLE?

*Hmmm...sorry, but didn't he play a Dad in Swordfish?

*It didn't really cross my mind to consider REAL STEEL as a sports movie -- I think the human drama element was why I really liked the movie.


Jo

[jo]

The interview by the Australian media was for CHAPPIE promotion, but it is multi-topic :


www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/is-this-the-worst-haircut-ever-hugh-jackman-explains-his-hideous-new-do/story-fnk850z8-1227218998489?from=public_rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

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Is this the worst haircut ever? Hugh Jackman explains his hideous new ‘do

Hugh Jackman’s horrible haircut in Chappie.


ONE of Hollywood’s most handsome leading men, Hugh Jackman, 46, may have to give up that mantle, at least for now anyway.

In the upcoming sci-fi flick, Chappie, Jackman is sporting one of the worst cinematic ‘do’s’ in recent history (perhaps with the exception of Javier Bardem’s villainous roles in No Country for Old Men or Skyfall).



Sexiest man alive.



Mullet king.


“Well, the first job I ever had where I met my wife (the TV show Correlli) I had a mullet. So it brought back some nice flashbacks,” he recalls.

But was Deborra-Lee Furness, nearly two decades later, happy to see the return of the famed mullet?



He hasn’t aged a bit! Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness in 1995 TV Show "Correlli".


“No, is the short answer.” He laughs. “But she always says that being married to me is kind of fun, it’s like having an affair every few months. I always look different so it spices it up a bit. But she hated that I had to get my hair dyed, and you could tell my hair was dyed because it was peroxide. It had those tips,” he laughs.

“It was bad and she found it so distasteful; she has a real problem with men who dye their hair, so that was tough.”

Jackman just finished up his stint on Broadway in The River, for which he earned rave reviews. He’s currently gearing up for a few film projects including The Greatest Showman on Earth, and an untitled Wolverine sequel. How does he manage his time between his family life raising two kids: Oscar, 14, and Ava, 10, and a busy career?



Hugh Jackman, Deborra Lee Furness and their kids Ava And Oscar.


“Basically, we try to make the family a priority, so whatever is needed. But I’m not as busy as 99 per cent of the working population. I get periods of time off. And when I do work, for example, I just did four months on The River, so I’d go to work at 6:30 at night and I’d be home at 9,” he says.

“It’s not hellish. I love my job. It doesn’t ever feel like hard work for me but the hard thing is balancing it and I think that’s the trick for most modern parents. And it’s also about balancing the kids’ lives, which is a challenge, because they are so busy, too.”

Famously easy going, you’d be hard pressed to find a co-star who doesn’t wax lyrical about Jackman’s famed charm and kind nature. He laughs. “Do I ever lose it?” he says, repeating the question. “Absolutely. Nothing really touches my emotional buttons more than my kids. I think any parent understands that and it kind of shocks me actually.” A frown appears. “I’ve gone through my whole adult life, from when I left school until my kids were born, and honestly, I don’t remember ever feeling that kind of level of frustration and anger that kids can bring out in you.” He pauses. “And when I get hungry I can lose it.”



Hugh found time out of his busy schedule in January to show Julie Bishop The Empire State



Famously easy going, you’d be hard pressed to find a co-star who doesn’t wax lyrical about Jackman’s famed charm and kind nature. He laughs. “Do I ever lose it?” he says, repeating the question. “Absolutely. Nothing really touches my emotional buttons more than my kids. I think any parent understands that and it kind of shocks me actually.” A frown appears. “I’ve gone through my whole adult life, from when I left school until my kids were born, and honestly, I don’t remember ever feeling that kind of level of frustration and anger that kids can bring out in you.” He pauses. “And when I get hungry I can lose it.”

In New York’s fashionable neighbourhood of Soho, Jackman has returned to his regular handsome self.

Chappie, also starring Sigourney Weaver and South Africa’s Sharlto Copley (District 9) is set in the near future about a rogue police robot who’s designed to feel emotions and think for himself. Jackman, who adopts a broader Aussie accent for the film than his natural intonation, plays an engineer who is opposed to artificial intelligence.



Hugh stars in Chappie alongside Sigourney Weaver and a robot. Source: AP


Does Jackman possess any innovative talents in the world of computers?

“Negative,” he replies. “I couldn’t be an inventor. I struggle as it is to understand what’s already been invented but I love it. As long as someone can show me how to do it, it’s great. I am not a troglodyte and I am not someone who fears it,” he explains. “I generally see possibilities in most of the stuff.”

Managing to keep several plates spinning, he has added another title to his resume, coffee entrepreneur. Founder of Laughing Man Coffee & Tea, he currently enjoys his new business venture which boasts two coffee shops in New York, the flagship situated in the chic Manhattan district of Tribeca. He says of his inspiration, “Deb and I took a trip to Ethiopia a few years ago and met a coffee farmer. And because of my desire to give back, that’s where the idea started. The profits go back to charity, helping the farmers. So, if you come into the shop you have a good coffee and at the same time, you’re giving back. It’s a win win.”



Hugh’s co-owner David Steingard at the Laughing Man Cafe in New York. Source: News Corp Australia


Jackman has partnered with Keurig Green Mountain. “I invite you to try it,” he grins. “We have the number one per-square retail space in Manhattan. We beat the Apple Store. There are lines around the corner, it’s unbelievable, it’s nuts.”

With a reported net worth of US$100 million, he has somewhat of a green thumb when it comes to finances.

“I have never been in debt, ever, in my life,” he declares. “In fact, I have an innate fear of being in debt. I don’t like the burden of it and I don’t have strong shoulders for that kind of thing. My wife says I’m a saver, but I’m also randomly very extravagant. So I don’t know what that says about me, but I’m not very materialistic.”

With so many accolades to his name such as Golden Globe Best Actor for Les Miserables (2013) and a Tony for his portrayal of Peter Allen in Boy from Oz (2004) how would Jackman like to be remembered? “As The Sexiest Man Alive,” he deadpans, referring to the People magazine title in 2008. “No, I’m kidding. I haven’t really asked myself that question but if I could be remembered I’d like it to be as a good dad and a good husband,” he says. “I’d be happy with that.”

[mamaleh]

Interesting about Deb's views on hair coloring. So many men now regularly dye their hair. I wonder if she has the same problem with women who dye their hair? I've wondered whether she does something to maintain that lovely blond mane, but maybe she's one of the lucky ones who will have naturally gorgeous locks forever.

Ellen

[ruby]

Feb 13, 2015 17:07:35 GMT -5 mamaleh said:

Interesting about Deb's views on hair coloring. So many men now regularly dye their hair. I wonder if she has the same problem with women who dye their hair? I've wondered whether she does something to maintain that lovely blond mane, but maybe she's one of the lucky ones who will have naturally gorgeous locks forever.

Ellen

Deb's hair is practically white. She doesn't appear to be a slave to the salon as her roots are often prominent. Many a close up photo will show this.