Hugh Jackman: Everything you need to know about The Greatest Showman
He's had an amazing career!
Hugh Jackman is one of the biggest names in showbiz right now. Not only is he a hugely talented actor, singer, dancer and all-round entertainer, but he's regularly topping lists of the most attractive men in Hollywood.
With a glittering career that spans more than two decades, the hard-working Australian was already massively well-known around the world before 2017, thanks to his turn in the X-Men films as Wolverine.
But after 2017, when The Greatest Showman was released - starring Hugh as protagonist P.T Barnum - the world exploded with love for the 50-year-old. Here's everything you need to know about the star...
Who is Hugh Jackman?
Hugh Jackman is an actor and singer, who has starred in over 40 films during his 25-year career. Having started his career by starring on Australian TV show Corelli, which also starred his now-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, he quickly made a name for himself on the theatre circuit, by playing the main role of Curly in the Royal National Theatre's production of Oklahoma! in 1998, a role he returned to for the film version of the stage show which was released a year later in 1999.
Is Hugh Jackman Wolverine?
However, the role that catapulted Hugh into Hollywood fame was that of Wolverine in the X-Men film series. After playing the immortal character in 2000's X-Men, he secured the role for the subsequent two sequels, as well as prequels First Class, Days of Future Past and Apocalypse, as well as having not one, but two origin films about his character - X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Wolverine.
Hugh Jackman's career timeline:
1995: Hugh is offered a role on Corelli
He must be one of the very few Australian actors to have actually turned down the chance to star on Neighbours, but Hugh was offered a role for the soap. On the night of his final performance for graduation at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts of Edith Cowan University in Perth, Hugh was offered a role on TV show Corelli, where he met his wife Deborra-Lee Furness (pictured here together in July 1997).
1997: Hugh was well into his theatre career
The actor took to the stage in Melbourne, starring in a local Disney production of Beauty and the Beast as Gaston and also Sunset Boulevard. Those glasses are really something.
1998: Hugh stars in Oklahoma!
In 1998, Hugh began to become well-known outside of his home country after playing Curly in the Royal National Theatre's version of Oklahoma! on the West End in London. The cast were brought back for a film version, which he took part in and said, "I totally felt like it can't get any better than this. On some level that production will be one of the highlights of my career."
2000: He became Wolverine
Another hugely notable career highlight for Hugh was definitely when he took on the role of Wolverine in the Marvel Comics film adaptation of X-Men - a role that was originally intended for Russell Crowe, who suggested Hugh for it instead.
Hugh's appearance in the first X-Men meant that he then went on to star in sequels X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, before being the star of origin story X-Men Origins: Wolverine and even having a part in prequel First Class as well as The Wolverine, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse and finally, Logan - SPOILER ALERT - in which the character dies.
2001: Hugh joins John Travolta in Swordfish
Our man tried out a different look for his role as a computer hacker in Swordfish with John Travolta - going for blonde hair and donning an earring. Unfortunately, the film was panned by critics.
2003: Things take a dark turn for Hugh's hair
Fans of Hugh seem to forget this dark period of time when he had -gulp- LONG HAIR. Nothing against long hair, of course, but it just wasn't a great look for our Hugh. Thankfully, it was all for a role - Hugh starred as Gabriel Van Helsing, the monster hunter in Van Helsing alongside Kate Beckinsale.
2006: Hugh's voice career takes off
2006 was a huge year for Hugh - he voiced papa penguin Memphis in Happy Feet alongside Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy and Nicole Kidman as well as Roddy the rat in Flushed Away with Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen, Bill Nighy and Shane Richie.
He also starred in dark thriller The Prestige with Christian Bale, The Fountain with Rachel Weisz and Scoop with Scarlett Johansson, as well as reprising his role as Wolverine for X-Men: The Last Stand.
2008: Hugh stars in Australia with Nicole Kidman
In 2008, Hugh took on one of his most serious roles yet - playing Drover in epic film Australia alongside Nicole Kidman which is the third highest grossing Australian film of all time.
2012: A career-defining moment in Les Misérables
Hugh took on one of the main roles Jean Valjean for Hollywood blockbuster Les Misérables in 2012 - a film version of the internationally beloved musical. He won the award for Best Actor at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards, and was nominated for the same category at the Academy Awards and BAFTAs.
He also voiced The Easter Bunny in animated film Rise of the Guardians alongside Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher and Jude Law that year. In 2013, Hugh took on the suspense thriller film Prisoners, starring as Keller Dover with Jake Gyllenhaal.
2016: Hugh rocks the facial fuzz
Hugh was so famous by 2014 that he actually appeared in two films as himself - Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and 2015's Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
In 2016, he starred in Eddie the Eagle as instructor Bronson Peary alongside Taron Eagerton, a biographical comedy-drama about Olympic ski jumper Michael Edwards. He also had a small cameo in X Men: Apocalypse that year as Wolverine.
2017: Hugh develops a full-on beard
The smattering of facial fuzz developed into a full-on beard in 2017 for Hugh's final turn as the character of Wolverine in Logan. SPOILER ALERT - the film marked his last portrayal of the no-longer-immortal James Howlett/Wolverine, and also introduced viewers to his biological daughter after his DNA was used to create new life.
2017: He evolved into The Greatest Showman
Of course, no Hugh Jackman timeline gallery would be complete without a mention of internationally-beloved film The Greatest Showman. Hugh showed off his vocal abilities once again for the film, which won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for the soundtrack, as well as a nomination for the Best Actor Golden Globe for Hugh's role in the film.
2018: Hugh became American Senator Gary Hart for The Front Runner
Hugh took on the role of Gary Hart for 2018's The Front Runner who was a Democratic presidential candidate in 1988. The film showed how Hart became ran for President of the United States, but fell from grace after pictures were published of him having an affair. The film also starred Vera Farmiga, J. K. Simmons and Alfred Molina.
In 2019, he has voiced the character of Sir Lionel Frost in animated film Missing Link, due to be released in April, alongside Zoe Saldana, Emma Thompson and Zach Galifianakis with Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas and David Walliams also involved.
2019: 'The Man. The Music. The Show.'
Hugh had a HUGE night in February 2019 when he opened The BRIT Awards with a phenomenal show, singing 'The Greatest Show' from The Greatest Showman.
He's also taking his biggest hits on tour around the world, with dates in the UK, Europe, the US, New Zealand and Australia, and will be joined for three dates in the UK by his co-star Keala Settle.
Is Hugh Jackman Australian?
Yes, Hugh Jackman is Australian! He was born on 12th October 1968 in Sydney to English parents Grace and Christopher Jackman, who had moved over from the UK in 1967 as part of the 'Ten Pound Poms' immigration scheme. He has four older siblings and a younger half-sister.
What is Hugh Jackman's age?
Hugh Jackman's birthday is 12th October 1968, which makes him currently 50-years-old.
Who is Hugh Jackman's wife?
Hugh Jackman's wife is Deborra-Lee Furness, an Australian actress and producer. The Perth-born 63-year-old has starred in plenty of films, recently having a voice role in 2010's Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.
She and Hugh met on the set of Correlli, where Deborra-Lee played titular character Louisa Correlli, a prison psychologist.
Does Hugh Jackman have kids?
Hugh Jackman does have children! After Deborra-Lee suffered two devastating miscarriages, the couple adopted two children - Oscar and Ava.
Can Hugh Jackman sing?
Hugh Jackman can definitely sing. He made a name for himself by starring on the stage, playing Gaston in Beauty and the Beast in Australia, before playing the lead role of Curly in Oklahoma! and reprising the role for the film version of the stage show.
He also played Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz on Broadway in 2003, as well as reprising the role in 2006 for an Australian production. He won a Tony Award as well as many other accolades for the role.
Hugh also provided all the vocals for his role in 2012's Les Misérables, where he starred as Jean Valjean. He won the award for Best Actor at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards, and was nominated for the same category at the Academy Awards and BAFTAs.
And, of course, he sang in almost all the songs for The Greatest Showman, receiving a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for the film's soundtrack, as well as a nomination for the Best Actor Golden Globe for his role in the film.
Is Hugh Jackman going on tour?
Hugh took his impressive vocals on a tour entitled 'The Man. The Music. The Show.' in June 2019. He performed at dates around the world, including shows in UK, Europe, the US, New Zealand and Australia.
His The Greatest Showman co-star Keala Settle joined him on the tour for three dates in the UK.
NOW WATCH: Hugh Jackman Talks About His Excitement At Opening The BRITs 2019
Turn it up with Hits Radio! Home of Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks, alongside the biggest laughs and life-changing competitions. Tune in on FM, DAB, online, ask your Smart Speaker to 'Play Hits Radio' and download the Rayo app.