Interview: Hugh Jackman

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And I think the key was that it became more complicated and what we are trying to say in the movie is that it is not necessarily about the winning or losing but about opening yourself up --vulnerability -- is the key. So I think all those things combined helped to make audiences not like Charlie but understand… One of the first things I did in my career was I was asked to sing the national anthem at a rugby match (Australia vs. New Zealand) and I had a panic attack the night before because I’ve seen people booed off singing the national anthem because they were terrible and never work again and I thought “it’s over” and something happened to me on the night, I remember. As I was introduced, I was booed by 30,000 fans, who were the New Zealand fans, but I just heard this boo as I was introduced and was instantly fired up and got me over any fear that I had. So I can look back on that moment and think that if I had been booed off, it would be over. I think life is fragile and we all kind of know that and that is why we can kind of feel for characters like Charlie.

When you were watching this movie which moment, or moments, did you think “this is the part the audience is really going to connect with?”

There is a scene in the movie where my character is coming back up and he’s feeling that things are possible and then his past comes back and he ends up being beaten up in front of his kid and his kid is put in danger. His very fragile self-esteem --which was building -- completely collapses and he realizes that all his worst fears about himself are true. He is no good. He is not fit to have a kid with him. So he tries to give the kid back to his aunt and the kid goes and storms off and he’s angry because he has been made to feel all these feelings -- prior to that he didn’t feel anything -- and he says “I’ve done everything that I can, what else do you want from me?” and the kid just turns to him and says “I want you to fight for me. That’s all I ever wanted.” Even saying the line kills me because, as a parent, I don’t think there can be anything worse to hear. So I think that is the point in the movie where people really connect.

The relationship between you and Dakota on screen seems really natural. How much time did you spend together before you shot?

I auditioned a lot of kids with Shawn because we knew how important it was. When Dakota came in, it was really clear in the room that he stood out. He also had that look; that was all adlibbed -- are you kidding me with those eyes? That was not in the script. That was just what he had. It was so obvious, the camera just loves him. He is an old soul and it really suits him. On set, we hung out together a lot; we spent a lot of time together.  I constantly had to think differently than I do as a father, you know. I played practical jokes on him -- I remember one time, he was sitting in the truck and I was driving. There is no dialogue in the scene, and as I was driving I was pumping the brakes and I told him “Hey there is something wrong with the brakes” as we were going down this long hill. He’s like “yeah, yeah. Stop it. It’s not funny.” And I’m like, “No I’m serious, man. There is something wrong with these brakes. Where’s the handbrake? Can you look for the handbrake? He started to and I was like “No, I’m kidding.” But that was constantly the type of relationship we had.

You seem to really love all the projects you do.

I constantly pinch myself about the fact that I am doing what I do. When I started in acting… I always loved acting but when I started at drama school I was like the dunce of the class. It just wasn’t coming right to me. Everyone was cooler, everyone seemed more likely to succeed, everyone seemed more natural at it and in retrospect I think that is good. I think it is good to come from behind as an actor. I think it is good to go into an audition thinking “Man I’ve got to be at my best to get this gig.” Honestly, when I started acting, it was my way of meeting girls. And actually, seeing as how I married my very first co-star, that probably never stopped.

 

 

 

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