Hugh Jackman landed his first acting role in 1994 shortly leaving the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
The Australian star took on the role of Charles “Chicka” McCray in Law of the Land before starring in the stage productions of The Season at Sarsaparilla and Thark in the same year.
However, he is best known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men series, as well as starring in The Greatest Showman alongside Zendaya.
Despite being one of the most famous actors of his time, life hasn’t always been easy for Hugh.
As the Wolverine legend turns 52, Daily Star Online has delved into his past, including his brush with cancer, abandonment and struggling to become a dad.
Abandoned by mother
At the age of eight, Hugh’s mum Grace fled Australia and returned to England (Image: GC Images)
During his childhood, Hugh’s mum, Grace McNeil, suffered from post-partum depression – although he has previously said this was not diagnosed.
Hugh has openly spoken about spending the first 18 months of his life with his godparents.
Aged just eight, Hugh’s mum upped sticks and fled from Australia, returning to England with his two sisters, while he remained in Oz with his dad, Christopher and two brothers.
“It was miserable for a while, we were sort of fending for ourselves. Dad was so stretched. I remember crying a lot,” he said.
Grace has since admitted she doesn’t regret her decision after she battled post-natal depression (Image: Mirrorpix)
The dad-of-two felt a sense of abandonment and spoke candidly about his mother leaving: “I felt very exposed. Divorce was around, obviously, but no one’s mother left – it was always the father and he lived around the corner and came on weekends.
“I just wanted to be normal, I wanted my mum back and for a long time.”
However, despite his parents reuniting when he was 12 – they later split once more, with Grace going on to remarry.
Hugh has since gone on to form a close bond with his mum who admits she isn’t proud of leaving her son but admits she doesn’t regret her decision, claiming her children were “better off”.
Baby heartbreak
Hugh and Deborra have since adopted son Oscar, 20, and Ava, 15
After having a turbulent childhood, Hugh has since become protective over his two children – but his journey to fatherhood was less than easy.
Hugh and wife Deborra-Lee Furness struggled to conceive naturally, enduring gruelling rounds of failed IVF treatment and two miscarriages.
The pair married in 1996 when he was 27 and Furness was 40 and said they “started [trying] straight away when we were together,” due to his wife’s age.”
After struggling to conceive, Deborra, 64, and Hugh eventually turned to adoption in order to become parents to Oscar, 20 and Ava, 15.
Cancer battle
Hugh has documented his brush with skin cancer after first being diagnosed in 2013 (Image: MDM)
The Greatest Showman star has also documented his brush with skin cancer.
He first went under the knife to have his cancer removed in 2013 after Deborra urged him to have a growth examined by doctors.
Jackman was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, an uncontrolled growth which can often appear like an open sore or red patch.
The Skin Cancer Foundation claims that the type of cancer is often caused by “intensive, occasional sun exposure”.
Hugh revealed that his wife got him to check his nose after noticing something strange (Image: Instagram)
Since then, he has had around six procedures – documenting his sixth for his Instagram followers.
After his most recent procedure in 2017, Hugh revealed that medical staff encouraged him not to sing following the surgery on his nose.
“I had 80 stitches in my nose and my doctor said, ‘You’re not allowed to sing’,” he revealed during a Facebook video.
However, he said he was “not sorry,” for ignoring advice and later auditioning for a role in The Greatest Showman.
Director Michael Gracey is believed to have asked Hugh to act during the audition but instead, he opted to show off his impressive vocal ability.
Sexuality rumours
Jackman and wife Deborra-Lee Furness went on to adopt after struggling to conceive and suffering from two miscarriages (Image: NBC via Getty Images)
Hugh’s wife recently addressed claims her husband of 25-years was in fact gay.
It’s believed that speculation began after his performance as Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, a musical theatre performance about Liza Minelli’s late husband who later came out as gay.
Speaking on Anh’s Brush with Fame podcast, Deborra said: “I see these magazines and they are just so mean-spirited.
“I hope people realise it’s all made up. It’s just wrong.”
The disgruntled actress added: “It’s like someone saying to Elton John, ‘He’s straight’ – I’m sure he’d be p****d!”
She went on to joke: “Hugh’s been gay for so many years, I was gay too when I did [the film] Shame. They were shocked when I got married!
“And so what? What are we discussing here? Is he a vegetarian? Is he gay?”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
