Australian-born actor Hugh Jackman recently denied the rumour that he used steroids to transform into his role as the X-Men character Wolverine. In an interview on HBO’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace this week, the Greatest Showman actor said he bulked up using the ‘old-school way’ for his famous role.
Hugh Jackman hinted that he avoided steroids because one of their side effects is erectile dysfunction.
Hugh Jackman bulked up the old-school way
“No, I love my job. And I love Wolverine,'” Jackman, 54, replied when Wallace asked if he had ‘juiced’ for the role.
“I got to be careful what I say here, but I had been told anecdotally what the side effects are of that. And I was like, “I don’t love it that much.” So no, I just did it the old-school way,” he chuckled.
Jackman then made a few jokes about the high-protein diet he went on to gain muscle for each of his nine Wolverine movies.
“I’ve eaten more chickens – I’m so sorry to all the vegans and vegetarians and to the chickens of the world… Literally the karma is not good for me. If the deity has anything related to chickens, I’m in trouble,” he said.
The actor thought that the role meant ‘wolves’
In related news, Jackman admitted that he foolishly studied wolves after accepting the role ahead of 2000’s “X-Men.”
“I had never read the comic book,” Jackman said. “I got the part. I didn’t really know anything about…I didn’t, in Australia we don’t have wolverines. I didn’t know that was a real animal. I’d never heard of a wolverine. I thought it was a made-up animal. You know, like, he’s got man hands of steel, made up. And so I was passing as I was doing rehearsal at the Imax, they had this documentary about wolves. And I was like, perfect, because obviously I’m a wolf, part wolf.”
“So I went [to set] with all these wolf moves and I was doing these moves, and the director said, ‘What are you doing?’” Jackman continued. “And I said, ‘Well, I was just thinking wolves are always looking like this because they’re actually smelling, they’ve got their nose to the ground. That’s why they’re looking like this all the time.’ And he goes, ‘What do you mean a wolf?’ And I said, ‘Well, you know, Wolverine — I’m part wolf so…’ and he goes, ‘No, you’re a wolverine.’”
During the interview with Chris Wallace, Jackson talked about the arduous workout routine he will be following to play Wolverine in Ryan Reynold’s upcoming superhero movie Deadpool 3.
Jackman, who last donned his claws in 2017’s Logan, told Wallace: “I’m not doing any other work. I’m going to be with my family and train. That’s going to be my job for six months.”
He is very fit now thanks to his Broadway role
He also credited his current starring role in The Music Man on Broadway with helping him stay in shape.
“And I’m really fit right now,” said Jackman. “There’s one thing that about eight shows a week being on Broadway singing and dancing is I’m fit. So I’m healthy. I have a good place to start.”
“I’ve learned you can’t rush it,” he added. “I’ve learned that it takes time.”
Deadpool 3 is slated for release in September 2024.