Hugh Jackman says he is nothing like Wolverine: ‘Never felt safe as an actor’

Actor Hugh Jackman is opening up about the role that changed his career and made him a movie star. When the first X-Men movie released two decades ago, Hugh became a household name for playing the Marvel comics fictional character Wolverine.

Yet, the actor now reveals that he is nothing like the mutant superhero that fans seem to associate him with at most times. “I think it’s important for me to be pushed into areas where I don’t know if I can pull it off,” he said. “I’ve never felt safe as an actor.”

“When I was getting into this business, the playbook for being a movie star was being mysterious,” the 53-year-old Academy Award-nominee said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “Don’t let anybody in. Leave them wanting more. Don’t reveal things. Project a certain image.” Hugh further added that along the years, this concept has evolved, “Now I think there’s a responsibility for someone like me to discuss the fear of talking about vulnerability,” he said. “Of course I’d rather go through the things that everybody goes through rather than projecting some idealized version of myself. I am trying to do that more publicly.”

Meanwhile, with the news of Hugh Jackman facing off Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 3 to reprise his X-Men character, the actor also has a tremendous amount of pressure to live up to the expectations of fans. Hugh admits he feels more close to the character of Peter Miller in his upcoming release, The Son, a divorced parent trying to rebuild his life while tending to his distressed son. “This role brought up mistakes I made and regrets that I have,” Hugh said. “I think one of the great messages of the movie is that love isn’t always enough. When you go into raising a kid with a little more humility and understanding, you probably come in with fresher eyes. You understand your own upbringing and predilections as a parent.”

Directed by Florian Zeller, who won an Academy Award for co-writing The Father in 2020, The Son also stars Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby and Zen McGrath. Sony Pictures is set to release the film in select theatres November 25.