Birthdate: October 12, 1968 Birthplace: Sydney, Australia Occupations: Actor, Musician Quote: "The challenge of being an actor seemed to help with my challenge as a person so I knew I was on the right track and that regardless of how things panned out, regardless of whether I got work, it would be a really positive thing for me to have done the training." - Panorama, March 1997

Claim to Fame: Starred as Logan/Wolverine in the film version of the popular Marvel comic X-Men (2000)

Significant Other(s):
Wife: Deborra-Lee Furness, actress; met while starring together on the TV series Corelli

Family:
Father: Chris Jackman, British; separated from Jackman's mother 1976; raised children
Mother: British, left family and returned to England, 1976; was at one time estranged from her children
Brother: Ian Jackman; older
Brother: Ralph Jackman; older
Sister: Sonya Jackman; older
Son: Oscar Maximillian Jackman; adopted May 2000

Biography
A handsome and charismatic Australian, Hugh Jackman went from completing acting school to a starring role in a series on network television in his homeland in one day. Enrolling in drama school after turning down a role in the enormously popular Australian soap "Neighbours", Jackman landed the role of violent and manipulative inmate Kevin Jones in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) prison drama "Corelli" upon his graduation from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He powerfully played the insidiously attractive prisoner opposite Deborra-Lee Furness, who starred as the title criminal psychologist. As their budding romance heated up the screen, a behind-the-scenes relationship led to the actors' real life marriage. He went on to appear as Detective Eric Ringer on Australian TV's "Halifax f.p." and had many guest starring roles on other series in his native country. His relaxed and natural presence led to a flourishing career as a television host, counting among his credits a job as presenter of the series "In Fashion" (1997) for the Australian pay network Foxtel and hosting 1997's Australian Film Institute Awards presentation.

Filmography
Someone Like You (2001)
Swordfish (2001)
Kate and Leopold (2001)
X-Men (2000)
Paperback Hero (1999)
Erskineville Kings (1999)

Awards:
1997: Mo Award: Musical Theater Performer of the Year, Sunset Boulevard
1997: Variety Club: Musical Theater Performer of the Year, Sunset Boulevard

Factoids:
Jackman turned down a role in the popular Australian television drama Neighbours that would have brought him instant national fame (1992)

Education:
University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; B.A., Journalism
Attended Actor's Center, Sydney, Australia, 1991
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Perth, Australia, 1994