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c h i k k a
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As if he hasn’t done it all, Oscar host, Broadway showman
and Hollywood A-lister Hugh Jackman takes on a role in the
upcoming movie rendition of
Les Misérables
.
Here, he reveals
his biggest fears, favorite superhero and shares invaluable
parenting tips. By Reese Esposito and Ariel Coen/Celebritext
Mister
all-rounder
PHOTO
KEVIN WINTER (GETTY IMAGES)
What can you say
about being part of
Les
Misérables
?
As the world’s
longest running musical, it
is a true classic.
I know that it’s a tough task, but if you’re
going to do a movie musical, it does help
that it’s one of the most beloved musicals
of all time. [Jean] Valjean is a great part.
Tom Hooper [director,
King’s Speech
]
is
directing it and Russell Crowe is playing
Javert. It feels special to me. We give it the
good old college try.
Is it theatrical rather than
realistic?
No. If you look at Tom’s work, I think he’s
realism-based. It will feel real. I mean, look,
they’re singing. So, you’re asking for a leap,
but I don’t know if you’ve seen the musical.
Five times.
Well, did you see how many props were
in that thing? Real cutlery. I mean, it’s
a musical onstage and there’s like 600
people on “The Master of the House”
and they’ve all got vintage forks and
spoons and plates. It is standard to get the
audience to buy into this convention that
we’re singing what we feel. But this is such
an emotional piece that I feel it plays better
than most.
We know you have pipes,
but how does Russell sing?
He’s got it too, man. He was in musicals
early on in Australia.
And he has a band.
Prior to having a band he was in
The
Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers
musical in Australia. You’ve got to
understand, in Australia, there’s probably
10
movies made a year, and so no one
thinks they’re going to be a movie star.
You can be the most successful movie star
there is and not make a living. So, you
have to do everything.
So,
Wolverine
the musical?
No.
As a singer, actor and dancer,
are you confident about it all?
I can look back on my own life where
there have been a few moments when
things could’ve easily gone badly. I look
at hosting the Oscars and I felt that went
well for me, but if I bombed — which
was possible — I could’ve lost my
Musical-theat er
superhero from
Down Under
