10 Little-Known Facts About Hugh Jackman

Since his first professional acting role in the Australian series Law of the Land almost 25 years ago, and his iconic debut as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's X-Men (2000), Hugh Jackman has deservedly been crowned as one of Hollywood's most beloved figures.

From showcasing his action-hero prowess as Wolverine, to delivering heartfelt performances in Les Misérables, and dazzling audiences with his dance skills in The Greatest Showman, Jackman proves his versatility time and again.

To honor the Oscar-nominated star on his 50th birthday, here are 10 fascinating tidbits about Hugh Jackman you may not know.

1. RUSSELL CROWE WAS INITIALLY PICKED TO PORTRAY WOLVERINE.

It’s nearly impossible to picture anyone but Hugh Jackman as Wolverine today. Yet, it was Russell Crowe—originally cast for the part—who paved the way for Jackman’s casting.

Crowe recommended his friend, Hugh Jackman, an unknown Australian actor at the time, for the role. Although Dougray Scott was initially chosen, scheduling issues with Mission: Impossible 2 forced him to step down. Eventually, Jackman landed the part, and the rest became legendary. (Third time’s the charm, indeed.)

2. JACKMAN ESTABLISHED A FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT FARMERS.

The Laughing Man Foundation “aims to empower coffee farming communities by funding initiatives that promote health, growth, and prosperity for farmers and their families.” Jackman founded the organization after meeting Dukale, an Ethiopian coffee farmer, and his family. This encounter motivated him to launch Laughing Man Coffee and The Laughing Man Foundation to assist families like Dukale’s.

3. HE FOUND LOVE ON THE SET OF HIS FIRST SIGNIFICANT ACTING ROLE.

Jackman’s big break came in 1995 with the short-lived prison drama Correlli, where he portrayed Kevin Jones, an inmate who develops a romantic connection with his psychologist, played by his future wife, Deborra-Lee Furness. Their on-screen chemistry translated into a real-life relationship, leading to their marriage a year later. The couple has remained together ever since and is raising two children.

4. JACKMAN'S MOTHER LEFT THE FAMILY WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.

Born in Australia to English parents, Jackman is the youngest of five siblings. At the age of eight, his mother left the family and returned to England, leaving his father to single-handedly care for him and his brothers and sisters.

Five years later, Jackman’s father traveled to England hoping to reunite with his wife. "Dad went to bring her back, but she had already remarried and had a child," Jackman shared with The Hollywood Reporter. "It was incredibly complicated. When Dad returned unexpectedly after just five days instead of three weeks, I knew something was wrong. I was old enough to understand that reconciliation wasn’t happening."

Jackman has revealed that he channeled the anger from his mother’s abandonment, particularly during his teenage years, into his portrayal of Wolverine.

5. HE ONCE ASPIRED TO BE A JOURNALIST.

Jackman enrolled at the University of Technology in Sydney, pursuing a degree in communications with ambitions of becoming a journalist. His dream was to work as an international freelance journalist. However, during his final year, he realized he was short on credits and decided to take a drama class. The rest, as they say, is history.

6. HE IS SKILLED IN MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTS AND USES MEDITATION AND YOGA TO UNWIND.

Given his musical prowess, it’s no surprise that Jackman is proficient in three instruments: piano, guitar, and violin. To manage the pressures of fame, he has practiced Transcendental Meditation for nearly three decades. He was introduced to yoga by his Kate and Leopold co-star, Meg Ryan, which has become another key part of his relaxation routine.

7. HE WOULD BE THRILLED IF TOM HARDY TOOK OVER AS WOLVERINE.

In 2015, MTV UK questioned Jackman about who he’d prefer to see as a younger Wolverine in a reboot. While he humorously warned against giving producers ideas to replace him too soon, he immediately suggested Tom Hardy as his top choice.

8. JACKMAN OWNS A SUPERHERO WORLD RECORD.

Since 2016, Jackman has held the Guinness World Record for portraying the same superhero the most times in live-action films, appearing as Wolverine in all seven installments of the X-Men franchise.

9. HE'S BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSICALS SINCE CHILDHOOD.

Jackman’s fascination with musical theater began at age 10 after watching a high school production of Man of La Mancha. This sparked a lifelong passion, leading to iconic roles in musical films like Les Misérables and The Greatest Showman.

10. HE ADMITS TO HAVING A MAN CRUSH ON GEORGE CLOONEY.

Perhaps the most amusing fact about Jackman is his admission that, if he were a woman, he’d want to date George Clooney. This quirky question was posed to him in 2015, and he answered without hesitation. True to his character, he even apologized to Clooney’s wife, Amal, for his playful response.