Hugh Jackman: From ‘White Rage’ to Christian Peace

In a wide ranging interview in Parade, stage and film actor Hugh Jackman — soon to be seen as the pirate Blackbeard in “Pan,” due out Oct. 9 — talks about his rough childhood (his mother left when he was 8), his marriage, the joys of adopting two children, and his Christian faith.

Here are some excerpts:

On “Pan,” which portrays 12-year-old Peter Pan as a London orphan:

In scenes at the orphanage in the beginning of the movie, the nun talks harshly: “Your mums are not waiting for you. You’re not going to see them again.” I actually read this to my wife and talked to [director] Joe Wright about it. I went, “Hang on. This is dealing with adoption and orphans. I want to make sure that this movie is not something my kids are going to feel weird about.” Every movie I do, I think, My kids are going to see this.

On the anger that came from the realization his parents weren’t going to get back together:

In playing rugby my rage would come out, rage that I identify as Wolverine rage. I’d be somewhere in a ruck in rugby, get punched in the face and I’d just go into a white rage.

On how acting gives the self-described Christian the peace of Christ:

I’m a religious person. This is going to sound weird to you. In Chariots of Fire the runner Eric Liddell says, “When I run, I feel His pleasure.” And I feel that pleasure when I act and it’s going well, particularly onstage. I feel what everyone’s searching for, the feeling that unites us all. Call it “God.”

On adopting after being unable to have biological children:

So we adopted, and it has been the greatest, most fulfilling and challenging role of our lives.

Click here to read the rest.

Here’s a peek at “Pan”:

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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