Hugh Jackman: how a dancer and romantic became a superhero

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Lifehacker recalls how the career of the famous actor developed and what the audience loved most of all.

Acting career of Australian Hugh Jackman began with cameo roles in the little-known TV series "Country Law" and "Correlli" in 1994. He was then already 26 years old, and it is likely that he would have remained a little-known serial actor if he had not been carried away by theatrical performances and musicals.

Musicals and romantic comedies

In 1995, Jackman played the villainous Gaston in the musical "Beauty and the Beast", and then got into the Australian version of Sunset Boulevard, which earned him two winning nominations for the main theater award in Australia "Mo".

But Jackman really glorified the musical "Oklahoma!", For which he received the Laurence Olivier Award, and in 1999 he was even recognized as the best actor in Australia.

Around the same time, Hugh Jackman's film career began to develop. However, at first, in a handsome and stately actor with a charming smile, some directors saw only the hero of romantic comedies. But even in this light genre, he presented the audience with several very vivid images.

What to see

Oklahoma

• USA, 1998.
• Musical.
• Duration: 180 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

At the beginning of the 20th century, in the Wild West, a love story unfolds between the beautiful Laurie and her two gentlemen: the cowboy Curly and an employee with Judd's dark past.

The hero of her novel

• Australia, 1999.
• A romantic comedy.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

Jack Willis, the driver of a huge truck, has one secret: he writes romance novels using the name of his girlfriend Ruby Vale as a pseudonym. But one day a famous publisher comes to the small town where Jack lives and wants to sign a contract with Ruby. And the hero has to persuade his girlfriend to play along with him and portray a writer.

Kate and Leo

• USA, 2001.
• A romantic comedy.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Noble Leopold, Duke of Albany, just on the eve of his marriage to a wealthy American woman, comes from 1876 to New York at the beginning of the 21st century. There he meets business woman Kate McKay. And she quickly realizes that Leo cannot be left alone and must be sent to the past, because he will disappear in the modern world.

The role of Wolverine and worldwide fame

Fortunately for Jackman and all movie lovers, he managed not to get stuck in the image of a dim-witted handsome man. And this happened thanks to the era of comic-book films that began on the big screens.

Jackman got the fateful role of Wolverine in X-Men three weeks before the start of filming, and only because the more famous Russell Crowe and Dougray Scott refused to star in this picture due to their employment in other projects. It was a happy coincidence that allowed Hugh Jackman to take on a role that he regularly returned to over the next 17 years.

What to see

X-Men

• USA, 2000.
• Superhero action movie.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

A mutant girl nicknamed Rogue meets with a loner Logan, who calls himself Wolverine. They are sent to the school of Professor Xavier, where he teaches young mutants to cope with their abilities. But they all have to face Magneto and his henchmen, who decided to turn all the major politicians of the earth into mutants.

X-Men 2

• USA, 2003.
• Superhero action movie.
• Duration: 134 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

An unknown mutant makes an attempt on the life of the President of the United States. Because of this, the government is trying to introduce widespread registration, and Colonel William Stryker is planning an attack on the school of Charles Xavier. But the mutants find out that the same Stryker, who is somehow connected with Wolverine's past, is behind the assassination attempt itself.

X-Men: The Last Stand

• USA, 2006.
• Superhero action movie.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Jean Gray, who died in the previous film, is reborn in the form of an uncontrollable Dark Phoenix. She goes over to the side of Magneto, and now Professor Xavier, Wolverine and other X-Men have to stop the war, which can lead to the destruction of all living things.

Dramatic roles and work with famous directors

Filming in "X-Men" brought Jackman worldwide popularity and almost cult status. Therefore, various proposals fell on him from all sides. He continued to play tough characters like in Van Helsing, but he also paid tribute to the more complex dramatic roles. Moreover, even such directors as Christopher Nolan and Darren Aronofsky drew attention to him.

What to see

Prestige

• Drama, thriller.
• USA, UK, 2006.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Once upon a time, the two illusionists were partners. But the competition made them the worst enemies, and now everyone is ready not only to disrupt the performance of the opponent, but also to endanger the lives of his loved ones.

The fountain

• Science fiction, drama, parable.
• USA, 2006.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Oncologist Tom is trying in every way to save Izzy's terminally ill wife. Desperate, he wants to find the mythical tree of life, but all his attempts fail. Izzy asks Tom to finish her book The Source, in which she allegorically describes her illness and the idea of rebirth. Through this book and his dreams, Tom comes to an understanding of eternal life.

Real Steel

• Action, science fiction, family.
• USA, 2011.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

In 2020, all fights between people were banned as inhumane. Instead, huge robots controlled by engineers are now fighting in the arena. Former boxer Charlie Kenton finds the robot he dreams of making a champion. But in parallel with this, he needs to improve relations with the unexpectedly appeared 11-year-old son.

Solo trilogy about Wolverine

At the same time, the creators of the X-Men franchise tried to restart the history of mutants after the completion of the trilogy. And first of all, they decided to tell about the most popular character - Wolverine. Later it was planned to shoot similar stories about other heroes, such as Cyclops. But not a single character, except for Logan, was so loved by the public.

In addition to the fact that Wolverine was made the main character of the film "X-Men: Days of Future Past", where almost all the actors of the old and new cast of the franchise gathered, Jackman starred in three solo films about his character. Moreover, this story began as an ordinary comic, and ended with a real noir drama. Interestingly, the two films were directed by James Mangold. It was he who once saw the potential of Hugh Jackman and took him into the film "Kate and Leo".

What to see

X-Men. Start. Wolverine

• USA, 2009.
• Superhero action movie.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

James Howlett and his half-brother Victor Creed have regenerative abilities and can release their claws from their hands. Together they will have to go through wars and hard times, then become part of the Weapon X program, which united mutants into a special squad. And then Wolverine will receive the famous adamantium skeleton.

Wolverine: immortal

• USA, 2013.
• Superhero action movie.
• Duration: 126 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Wolverine once saved the Japanese Yashida during the bombing of Nagasaki. After the events of The Last Battle, the aging and morally broken Logan again comes to his old acquaintance in Japan. He dies of cancer and wants to say goodbye to him. But it turns out that someone has been hunting for Wolverine himself for a long time.

Logan: Wolverine

• USA, 2017.
• Superhero action, road movie, drama.
• Duration: 137 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

An aged Logan barely survives as a limousine driver. He devotes all his free time to his only friend, the half-crazy Professor Xavier. But he has the last chance to accomplish another feat in life. He must deliver the young mutant Laura to safety. Logan realizes that perhaps this is a one-way trip, but Xavier persuades him to help the girl, because she looks so much like Wolverine himself in his youth.

Further career development

In parallel, Jackman starred in a wide variety of roles. He is invited by Denis Villeneuve and Neil Blomkamp. And besides, he does not forget about self-irony. For example, the role in the black comedy "Movie 43" seems to ridicule the cult of the generally recognized handsome man. The film, however, failed, but lovers of the harshest humor appreciated it.

What to see

Captive

• Detective thriller.
• USA, 2013.
• Duration: 153 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

One day, Keller Dover's daughter did not return from a walk. The police arrest the first suspect in the kidnapping - the imbecile Alex. But there is no direct evidence of his guilt, and the suspect is released. While detective Loki is investigating the crime, the girl's father decides to judge himself and kidnaps Alex.

A robot named Chappy

• Action, drama, fantasy, thriller.
• USA, 2015.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

This is the story of Chappy, the first robot that can think and feel on its own. Otherwise, however, he is no different from other teenagers. Chappy likewise falls under the influence of his surroundings and does not know at all how to live.

Eddie "The Eagle"

• Drama, comedy, sports, biography.
• USA, 2016.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Trampoline player Eddie, nicknamed the Eagle, became famous for taking the last place in all competitions. Only Bronson Peary, a former champion, who eventually became addicted to drinking, took over to train him.

Return to musicals

The most amazing thing is that, despite the immense popularity in cinema, Hugh Jackman never forgot what once brought him popularity - musicals. Even opening the Oscar in 2009, he staged a real vocal and dance performance.

In 2015, he embarked on a concert tour of his native Australia. The show was called Hugh Jackman - Broadway to Oz, and the famous actor performed various musical numbers in it, accompanied by an orchestra and dance group. And in 2017, having finished the role of Wolverine, he starred in the musical film The Greatest Showman.

What to see

Greatest Showman

• Musical, drama, biography.
• USA, 2017.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Phineas Taylor Barnum dreams of becoming famous. And he finds his calling: he opens a circus, gathering in it the strangest and most talented people. But the troupe has to face protests from the locals, as well as Barnum's own ambitions.

Hugh Jackman's career began with the lightest genres: musical, romantic comedy and comics. But the talented actor managed to go beyond the purely entertaining cinema, and now everyone has recognized that he does an excellent job with drama. Jackman turns 50, and he has already announced that he has said goodbye to the image of Wolverine forever. So fans have to wait for something completely new and unexpected.