Hugh Jackman on his reputation for being nice: ‘it’s just being a normal person’

HughJackmanCoversVariety
Hugh Jackman is covering Variety to promote The Greatest Showman, his musical about the life of P.T. Barnum which is coming out December 20th. There’s a lot riding on this release, which Hugh’s production company, Seed Productions, helped bring to the big screen. Musicals are hit and miss at the box office, as Variety notes, and this one cost $100 million just to market and put out. Hopefully it will be a hit for Hugh and it should be successful as it’s a family friendly film released at the holidays.

I love Hugh and I enjoy seeing and reading his interviews, but he tends to repeat himself and he doesn’t reveal anything groundbreaking usually. I’d like to get his thoughts on Predatorgate 2017 but this story focuses on his career. particularly this change in his focus since he’s no longer associated with a franchise and is pursuing his passion, essentially. I especially like what he says about his reputation as a nice guy.

On his swan song as Wolverine in Logan
“I wish I’d started playing him like that 17 years ago. So there’s some sense of missed opportunity, but when I saw ‘Logan,’ I sat there and I did have tears in my eyes. The main feeling I had was: ‘There, that’s the character. I feel like I’ve done it now.’ And I was calm and at peace, but I’m going to miss that guy.”

On his physique, he’s said this before
“People always say to me, ‘Why are you in such good shape?’ and I always answer, ‘If I told you that you were going to be on film on a 40-foot screen with your shirt off, you’d be in good shape too.’”

He dismisses compliments that he’s nice and accommodating to fans
“It’s the way I was brought up. My parents always treated people with great respect. My father never yelled, and I admired that. I also genuinely love the family aspect of what we do, and I feel more comfortable being relaxed and myself with everybody, rather than a feeling of ‘Oh, I’m a big actor; you can’t talk to me.’ My way of connecting — maybe people attribute it as being nice, but it’s just being a normal person.”

[From Variety]

I hope we never hear a bad word about Hugh, I hope he’s everything he seems – a consummate professional, a good person and a loving husband and father. He’s just an incredible entertainer, although I question whether Barnum’s story deserves the Hollywood musical treatment. It just seems like a whitewash of his origin story, at least judging by the trailer and the fact that Hugh is playing a heroic figure. He also does gritty superhero well. Logan was an incredible film and I would like to see some nominations for Hugh and for Patrick Stewart.

Father and son reunion. @sirpatstew #Logan #Charles #wolverine

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42 Responses to “Hugh Jackman on his reputation for being nice: ‘it’s just being a normal person’”

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  1. Jillian says:

    I love him.

    • imqrious2 says:

      Ditto. Seems like one the last (few) really nice guys: loves his wife and his kids, nice to everyone, polite…. And the fact that he’s gorgeous to boot is just the cherry on top!

  2. swak says:

    I really want to see this. I haven’t wanted to really see a show in a long time. Last time I went was to the $1 show with the grandchildren.

  3. AG-UK says:

    I know this is a stereotype but he’s an Aussie most I know are pretty down to earth. He seems like a nice guy and not bad on the eyes either.

  4. QueenB says:

    So whats his take on Bryan Singer?

    • Pumpkin (formally soup, pie) says:

      Very good question!

    • Tiffany says:

      Hopefully he is sitting down and enjoying a drink. Singer tried to destroy Jackman and get him removed from the franchise.

      When Singer have a horrible quote about Jackman for a cover story about him, Hugh, was way more polite than I ever would have been.

      • Deering says:

        Tiffany—wow, really? Spill, darlin’—spill, please! 🙂

      • Tiffany says:

        I think that Jackman was on the cover of Esquire maybe, to promote the second film. The interviewer was so taken back by the comment from Singer that it became part of Jackman’s story. Like, the interviewer did some research on Singer and was very complementary on Jackman’s professionalism.

    • ichsi says:

      This is pretty much what I’m thinking with interview of his coming out atm. Love him, but there’s some ugly stuff lurking here.
      @Tiffany I’ve never heard of this. From everything I’ve seen they get along very well. Can you link this?

  5. Annika says:

    My #1 crush, always & forever

  6. Beckysuz says:

    It would break my heart if anything came out about Hugh. I love what he says here. My mom (who is just the kindest person) always taught us to treat people well. Something she told us growing up has really stayed with me…”it costs you nothing to be kind, but can make a far bigger impact on the world than you realize”. Its a simple idea but one that really made a difference in my life.

    • SK says:

      I doubt it. I know a number of people who have friends in common with him or have met him or worked with him and they all rave about how genuine, down-to-earth and nice he is. I have a few cameraman friends and they all said he’s the nicest celebrity they’ve ever met hands down and a dream to work with.

    • mia girl says:

      It would break my heart too! He and Barack Obama are at the top of my “please oh please don’t let anything come out about him being a harasser or predator for the love of everything, please oh please” list.

      Also, I’ve met Hugh Jackman twice and I can tell you he seems totally authentic and genuine – such a nice man with amazing positive energy. And lordy, is he handsome…

    • paranormalspouse spent some time talking to him once and said he was a genuine good guy. And really, my husband has a pretty good bullshitometer.

    • hmmm says:

      It’s so remarkable and sad that we no longer accept a decent human being at face value. I admire Hugh Jackman and continue to believe that he is one, and quite grounded too. Better that than the alternative which seem to overwhelm us.

  7. CeeCee says:

    Such a handsome fellow. <3

  8. Americano says:

    I saw Hugh Grant at an airport lounge with his son. I didn’t want to bother him when he was with his son, but many other people approached him. He was so kind to all of them. I would’ve been annoyed but he was very kind.

    • SK says:

      A friend of mine from school met him through her uncle. We were teenagers at the time and she was completely obsessed with Hugh Grant. He was super nice, signed gazillions of photos and items for her and all of her friends back home, went to multiple dinners with her family and was just lovely always. It was during the filming of Notting Hill. Julia Roberts on the other hand…

  9. Patricia says:

    Years ago, I thought he was just that guy with the claws in the XMen movies. And my sister insisted we go see his song and dance show, and he was incredible. So talented. I was so surprised. One of the better eggs in the business probably.

  10. Neelyo says:

    That Barnum movie looks terrible.

    • I think it looks fun. Probably not great cinema, but fun.

      • hmmm says:

        I bet it’s a traditional musical, a rarity these days. Not about facts, but about entertainment, with music. Such a lost art.

      • imqrious2 says:

        I have a soft spot for Barnum (after seeing Michael Crawford staring in it); I even named my cat PT Barnum (Barney for short-because he believed I was the sucker born to cater to his every whim (and I did 😊 ). I love Hugh Jackman, so I will definitely see it! I think it looks good.

    • Lexie says:

      Agreed. The contemporary-sounding music throws it way way off for me.

  11. Jerusha says:

    Nice guy. I’ve never heard anything bad about him and trust I never will.

  12. Kizzy says:

    I adore him. My first ever Broadway show was his one man show in 2011. I had standing tickets and 2 or 3 songs into the performance he gave two empty front row seats to this other girl in the standing row and I. Some people that paid the high price of front row seats weren’t very happy but he respectfully explained that he knew what it was like to love theater and not have money to see a show and that he appreciated anyone for spending the few dollars they had to see him, even if it was for the standing zone. He came up to us a couple of times throughout the show to ask if we were having fun…pretty sure I cried through most of it. lol

  13. Esmom says:

    He’s lovely inside and out. And it’s a little sad that being nice is seen as a novelty. I appreciate his humility and wish more people would understand that being nice should be part of being a “normal person.”

    • jetlagged says:

      It is sad, isn’t it? But I think he is being modest. Remaining a nice person in the entertainment world probably takes a remarkable strength of character.

      I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whether all the monsters we’re hearing about were like that before they had fame and success, or were they somehow twisted by the power and idolatry that comes with making it big. Perhaps a little of both.

      • hmmm says:

        Nah, Monsters are monsters. They had a choice and they chose the path of least resistance, the most culturally sanctioned one. As if strength is defined by aggression and dominion.

  14. minxx says:

    I love Hugh, he’s such a sweetheart and so talented!

  15. Mina says:

    I always say, hearing bad things about Hugh Jackman would be one of the few things that would shock me from this industry.

    • Mia4s says:

      The only questionable choice was working with Woody Allen (mileage may vary on what people think of that). Otherwise he’s been amazingly solid.

      • Mina says:

        True, but the movie they did together (Scoop) was in 2006, way before Dylan Farrow wrote her article about being abused by Allen, so we can forgive him for that.

  16. Maria S says:

    He is absolutely delightful every time he’s on the Graham Norton Show. I love him as much as it’s possible to love a perfect stranger.
    😃

  17. third ginger says:

    The new film is a big question mark. No reviews yet. Hugh is on my list of favorite people in show business. After all, we can only judge these people by public behavior and reputation among co-workers. Never heard a bad word about him.

  18. Valiantly Varnished says:

    Logan was so good. I cried when it was over. I met Hugh nearly ten years ago in NYC. I went to see him in A Steady Rain which he starred in with Daniel Craig. And while Daniel played the big star – he walked to his car without a peep to the fans and drove away, Hugh took the time to stop and chat and shake hands. He was lovely. And just as tall and handsome in real life as he appears on screen.