Hugh Jackman will soon reprise his role as James ‘Logan’ Howlett / Wolverine in Shawn Levy’s upcoming MCU film, Deadpool 3, but his path to stardom was not at all rosy. In fact, he had to fight with his own family in order to make them appreciate his passion for his line of work.
We frequently witness the ascent of our favorite celebrities without being aware of the challenges they faced along the way to fame. Hugh Jackman, an Australian actor well-known for his acclaimed performances in blockbuster movies like The Greatest Showman and X-Men, has one such motivational tale.
The humiliation he suffered at the hands of one of his older brothers when he was only 10 years old is an incident that very few people are aware of.
Hugh Jackman Discussed His Tragic Childhood
Imagine being a 10-year-old boy full of hopes and dreams, only to have them brutally crushed by someone close to you. Hugh Jackman went through such heartache after being brutally humiliated by one of his older brothers. When he was ten, one of his teachers came up to him after the school concert to congratulate him on his dancing abilities and to suggest that he enroll in dance lessons.
Although Jackman’s father supported the idea, one of his older brothers told him that dancing was only for girls, as the actor explained to The Guardian:
“What are ya – a poof? I wasn’t 100% sure what that was. But I knew it didn’t sound like something I should be. And that was it as far as dance. I shut it down. I was just too embarrassed. I’m the 10-minute Billy Elliot. ‘I wanna dance!’ ‘You poof.’ ‘’OK, I’ll be a miner’.”
However, his brother expressed regret when Jackman turned 18. He went on to add, sounding a little downhearted (The Guardian):
“That released something for me. I literally signed up for a tap class the day after he’d said sorry. Of course, I was fully aware I’d left it too late to turn professional.”
The fact that Jackman was able to turn adversity into opportunity is one of the most amazing aspects of his story.
Hugh Jackman’s Mom Left Him When He ‘Was 8’
Hugh Jackman, now 54, had several childhood experiences that clearly shaped him into the strong and determined person he is today. One such instance was when, at the age of 8, his parents divorced. While his mother relocated to England, the actor stayed in Australia with his father and two elder brothers.
In one of his earlier interviews with Parade, Jackman discussed his difficult childhood and claimed that his mother abandoned him when he was a young child. He said, referring to his younger self.
“I was volatile. My mum left when I was 8. My anger didn t really surface until I was 12 or 13. It was triggered because my parents were going to get reconciled and didn t. All those years I d been holding out hope that they would.”
The anger inside of him boiled over as he matured into a teenager. He further explained to Parade:
“There was this perfect storm of hormones and emotion. I’ve never said this before: I just remembered that we had those metal [school] lockers, and for some reason, half in fun, we used to head-butt the lockers until there was a dent in them. Like, who was the toughest and craziest?”
His frustration found a home in sports as he added:
“In playing rugby my rage would come out, rage that I identify as Wolverine rage. I d be somewhere in a ruck in rugby, get punched in the face and I d just go into a white rage.”
When questioned about the source of his rage, Jackman replied:
“From the moment Mum left, I was a fearful kid who felt powerless.”
The actor, who grew up with four older siblings, said (via Parade):
“I was the youngest. I used to be the first one home and I was frightened to go inside. I couldn t go into the house on my own. I d wait outside, scared, frustrated.”
More than anything else, the Beauty and the Beast actor further asserted that he found “peace” through acting, adding:
“Through acting, I m able to find a level of bliss and peace and calm and joy. And it feels natural.”
Well, in the upcoming movie, Deadpool 3, which is the sequel to the critically acclaimed films Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018), Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine.
Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool 3 is slated for release on May 3, 2024.
Source- The Guardian; Parade
