In a conversation from Variety and CNN’s Actors on Actors, actor Hugh Jackman talked about one of his first fan interactions after he became famous. The discussion was with fellow actor and singer Cynthia Erivo, where they discussed their careers.
Hugh is currently starring in Song Sung Blue with Kate Hudson. The movie is based on a true story about Mike and Claire Sardina, two performers in a Neil Diamond tribute band. The feel-good movie follows the down-on-their-luck performers who prove it’s never too late to find love and achieve their goals.
Hugh Jackman spoke with Cynthia Erivo for Variety’s Actors on Actors series
In his conversation with Cynthia, Hugh discussed a moment he had with fans after one of his first big films, X Men. “I was 29. Luckily, no one recognized me as Wolverine on the street. I remember two guys arguing — in front of me — ‘That’s him! That’s not him [they yelled].’ I pulled out my license to settle the argument. It took me a few years just to feel grounded,” he recalled on CNN’s Actors on Actors.
Cynthia responded, “If I had been 29 when this was happening, I think I would be a little out of control. But because I’m 10 years older than when you first started, I think I’ve found the ground. I have really good people around me who are helping to make sure that I’m still connecting with the floor.”
Hugh then discussed growing up listening to Neil Diamond’s Hot August Night album, saying, “I was definitely a fan.”
The Wicked actress asked about Hugh’s “beautiful chemistry” with Kate, saying, “It’s like the two of you have known each other forever. How do you let go of those characters?”
Hugh admitted his approach has changed over the years, and it’s connected to worrying about what other people think. “If I go back to Prestige or Prisoners, I didn’t know how to finish something,” he explained. “I thought, ‘Well, you’re an actor. You play it, and then you move on.’ But I can look back now and see that that’s not enough. With this experience, I trusted more.”
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