Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would spend several hours with a mega star as big as Hugh Jackman. It so happened that we were both in the same place at the same time: the Shanghai Film Festival, and after the red carpet reception on gala night, a handful of us were invited to the "in" restaurant, M on the Bund, for a dinner hosted by TV star and cosmetic queen Yue Sai Kan. During the course of the dinner party, an appointment for an interview was set for one of Kan’s TV episodes and I was the only media person invited.
Hugh is the Boy from Oz, the leading man in Beauty and the Beast, the star of a string of successful movies, such as Van Helsing, Swordfish, Kate and Leopold, and the X-Men series. He was voted by People magazine five years running as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People." But none of these stellar successes seem to have affected Hugh Jackman. He is simple, down-to-earth, a loving husband to his wife of 10 years, Deborra Lee Furness, and a doting father to his two multi-racial adopted children, Oscar and Ava.
Before the TV cameras started to roll, I sat with him for a full half-hour wherein he shared his thoughts on his childhood, career, family life, and his quest for spiritual growth.
On his childhood: His parents migrated from England to Australia. They separated when he was eight and his mother went back to England. His father raised all five children in Australia and he had an orderly, happy childhood as a whole. He spent summers with his mother in England, where he became interested in theater as his mother would take him and his siblings to watch Shakespeare and other plays. Back in school in Australia, he joined drama and music classes in school, but he never dreamed of becoming an actor. He wanted to be a lawyer first, then a journalist, but ended up taking journalism in university.
On his career: His father was a big influence in his life. His father always impressed upon him the importance of education. "Prepare for what you want to be by studying for it," was what he would always tell Hugh. So when Hugh decided to be an actor, he went to drama school and studied acting for four years. When he auditioned for Beauty and the Beast, he got the part, but there was a clause in his contract: He must take singing lessons. So he took them for an entire year while doing the lead role in Beauty and the Beast. Today, he is a good singer and dancer, too.
Hugh dedicated his opening night in Carnegie Hall to his father who came in a black tie. Hugh asked him why he came formally dressed, and his father replied, "It is my son’s opening night. What could be more special than tonight?"
He got his big break as Wolverine in X-Men because the actor that the director chose was filming a movie that took so long to finish. Hugh was made to audition three more times before he was finally chosen. He said it was the longest audition of his career. But it paid off, as the series was such a blockbuster.
He was first a TV actor before he became a stage and movie actor. He met his wife Deborra Lee when they co-starred on a TV drama Correlli in Australia. They married in 1996. "I was not prepared to get involved that early in my career, but when I met Deb, everything just flowed so easily between the both of us. I cannot imagine life without her and my children. When we got engaged, my father asked me if it was a maternal thing because Deb is eight years older than I am. But I really don’t feel our age gap. We have been married 10 years and I am still madly in love with her."
What is the direction of his career? He has put up a production company because he does not want to be totally dependent on producers for the continuity of his career. He wants to produce good quality films that will make a difference.
On his family life : They tried to have a child biologically, but it did not happen, so they tried in vitro fertilization, which was unsuccessful. They adopted Oscar, who is African-American, Caucasian, Hawaiian and Cherokee. Then they adopted Ava, who is half-Mexican, half-German. His number one priority in life is his family.
His eyes lit up when he talked about the first time he held Oscar in his arms. "I could not believe the love that flowed out of my being the first time I held this baby in my arms. My wife and I are overflowing with love for our children. We do not for one moment think that they are not our own flesh and blood. It is an overwhelming experience to be a father to these children and I thank God every day for this wonderful blessing!"
On his spiritual growth: He has been studying in the School of Practical Philosophy since 1991. The school is a nondenominational group of people who seek the truth and whose aim is to make this world a better place to live in. It teaches you how to be of service to others. He meditates twice a day for half an hour each time.
"My son asks me, what is meditation? I say to him, ‘I will go and sit down with God and have a rest.’ Occasionally he sits with me. He also goes to the same school of philosophy for children. The main thing he learns is how to be of service to others. At lunch, all the kids serve one another before they eat…It’s all about the pursuit of nothingness. It’s like the ultimate rest. It’s better than the best sleep you’ve ever had. It’s a quieting of the mind. It sharpens everything, especially your appreciation of your surroundings. It keeps life fresh. The more you practice, the deeper the experience gets."
Twice a day, preferably at sunrise and at sundown, "I sit down for a few minutes and be calm, I get in touch with my five senses, and I listen without judgment."
I could not help but pass judgment on this wonderful human being seated next to me. For everything that he is – he has his feet on the ground, his head on his shoulders and his heart on his sleeve for the loves of his life.