'As a teenager, I was explosively angry' Hugh Jackman finds it easy to play Wolverine
ACTOR Hugh Jackman has revealed that he draws on personal experience in order to play comic book character Wolverine.
By:
Kirsty McCormack
Published: Fri, May 31, 2013
Hugh Jackman draws on his teenage years to get into character for Wolverine (Empire)
The 44-year-old star, who returns as the immortal X-Man in 'The Wolverine' next month, uses his moody teenage years to bring out the anger that is needed to portray the character perfectly.
"As a teenager, I was explosively angry; I think rugby saved me, because thats just organised violence," Jackman told
Empire magazine in a recent interview.
"I would have got in a lot more fights. But I was someone who would go into a little bit of a blind rage and it was not pretty.
"I think, just naturally, I started to calm down. Or I just made the choice just to be a little less volatile. But as I got older there were fewer moments of that explosive rage. But even to this day theyre still there and I just probably am better at... or its just longer in between."
The 44-year-old has become less angry with age (Empire)
As I got older there were fewer moments of that explosive rage. But even to this day theyre still there and I just probably am better at or its just longer in between.
Hugh Jackman
The 'Les Miserables' star went on to say that he still has anger inside him, but due to being a parent he has learnt how to contain it.
"Its still there and I have to work on it and I have to be very sensitive as a father I dont want them seeing that. Sometimes, of course, I lose it, but its not constructive. And it really unsettles kids, I think. I do work on it. But thats something that I have in common with the character."
However, it's not just the past that helps Jackman get into character, but a very cold shower too.
One morning in the middle of a freezing Toronto winter Hugh found there was no hot water for his shower. "I went under the coldest water. I was so p***ed off I wanted to scream. And all of a sudden I was like, Thats Wolverine thats how he feels all the time,'" Jackman explained.
The full interview with Jackman appears in this months Empire magazine, on sale now
Now the actor begins each day on an X-Men movie with a cold shower as a trigger to help him get into that headspace.
While shooting the latest movie, Jackman endured months of 4am starts, relentless training and a diet of endless chicken.
"The one joy Im allowed each week is after I do squats. Im allowed a piece of toast with peanut butter," he laughed.
The full interview with Hugh Jackman appears in this months Empire magazine, which is on sale now.
