Rare look into Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness' love story

Welcome to Hugh Jackman's office. The set of his latest action film Wolverine. Where the star is a feisty mutant who grows shiny claws. Shows off his spectacular torso. And has such a rollicking good time. It's impossible to wipe the smile off his face. There's been a lot of action this morning basically. There's been a lot of action. A lot of tomato sauce. It's actually quite tasty. Believe it. Actually it's not. No, I'm lying. Or hide his playfulness. But there are a couple of female roles. And if you're in the mood, if you would like to do a little on-the-spot audition. Oh, I have to audition? Sorry, no. Not an immediate on-chain? No, you can get in. No, that's fine. I'm sure you can do it. Yeah, yeah, no, I'm sure. I won't show you my moves right now. Really? Or my blades. What would my mutation be? You've got two kids, right? So the ability to not sleep. Which is probably your life, right? I've already got that. Oh, you've got that, sorry. I am a mutant. Are you? Action! It's little wonder he's so happy. Wolverine is set in Japan but is being shot in Sydney. A rare trip home. His other home is New York with his family. But these days, because he's so in demand, Jackman is more like a fly-in, fly-out husband to wife Debra Lee Finesse. Now, I feel like I should be introducing you to each other. Debra Lee. Hi, wow. Nice to meet you. You're something. How are you? Alright, we're back in an hour. It's been a while. He is a fast mover, huh? There's no acting here. These two clearly adore each other. They met on the set of the ABC drama Corelli in 1995. Kevin, it's my job to get you to open up. Okay. Where the young pup actor was instantly smitten by the star of the show. I knew pretty soon in, but it was also my first job. Deb was a leading lady and I was fully aware this was a cliche and I was probably being ridiculous, so I backed off. But right from the beginning, we were great friends. Agree? Agree. Were you reluctant? So reluctant. My new year's resolution was I'm not dating any actors and definitely none under 30. Meet my husband. 17 years later, and with their two children, Oscar and Ava, their marriage and their lives seem more fairy tale than most. Hooking up with Hugh, considered one of the most gorgeous and nicest guys in Hollywood, has earned Deb the envy of women the world over. It all sounds too good to be true. It does, isn't it? Is it? No, it's perfect. I think perfect would be boring. So how is he imperfect, then? You think I'm going to share that with you all? He's pretty close to perfect. As Wolverine, Hugh is pretty perfect. Samurai without a master. The latest film is the fifth time he's played the character from the comic book X-Men series. When are you going to grow up, seriously? What, stop dressing up and pretending to be other people? Pretty much. A Marvel comic character. Exactly. Yeah, no, never. Never? No, no, I'm an actor. Growing up is an affirmation to actors. Once you start growing up, the moment you grow up, you realise it's ridiculous what you do. It really is dress-ups, you know, and pretending and having far too much fun. And a lot of the best actors I know, Annabelle, Travolta is one, they're like little kids, you know, and it's far too much fun to take it too seriously. But there was one person who wanted Hugh to take acting seriously. Back in 2000, when he was considering accepting a role in the first X-Men film, Debra Lee told him not to do it. Have you forgiven him yet for disobeying you and saying, yes, I'm doing Wolverine? Not at all. Either of my children are in that college fun. LAUGHTER It's the one time I was wrong. The only time ever. Well, come on, you would have done the same. The guy's grown claws and he's a mutant. I'm like, seriously? Yeah. What did I know? They never gave scripts. Yeah, there was no script. Three pages of... It was just a character breakdown of a guy with claws and he was a mutant. And he had a beard. I didn't think you knew that bit. Why did you disobey her if you didn't have a script? Well, I didn't really have any other options either. I was like, babe, I get it. We can't eat this week. Maybe we should take this gig. See, I had no idea about X-Men except the Sydney pub band, the Uncanny X-Men. I remember when I first heard it, I was like, they asked me to play Brian Maddox? This is a big Hollywood movie? This is a little obscure. You did not think that. Honestly, I was like, Uncanny X-Men? You really didn't know that. Luckily for the Jackmans, Hugh wasn't being asked to play the frontman of a now obscure Australian rock band. But the character he did play, Wolverine, became a lesson in taking risks and reaping rewards. Literally overnight came financial security and worldwide stardom. Do you remember sitting on that stoop? I knew you were going to bring that up. And you turned to me and said, everything's going to change from this. Because it was Saturday night and the movie had opened and it was a much bigger hit than people expected. And then on Monday morning I went to work and I came out of my trailer. And there were about 15 photographers. And I literally remember kind of going, oh, who's there? And I turned and I said, oh, hey. But we still do that. I mean, you think about it, we still do that. People will be staring and I'm like, what are they looking at? Oh, the fame thing. You forget it's kind of wacky. You forget the fame thing. Yeah. You, in your lifestyle. Yeah. Then you think, what are they doing? Who are those photographers? And you don't think about it, right? Because we're just with the kids or doing what we do. And are they around all the time now? Yeah. They're there a lot. Yeah. That's the one sort of frustrating bit. But actually, in Australia, they're there and kind of know the guys. That's the thing. You know them. Like, I'll go to school. We know the paparazzi, like the Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick, maybe, in our neighborhood. And I'll be like, Cheyenne, Carlos, guys. You've got to do your job better. Put on a longer lens. I don't want my kids to know you're taking photos. I get it. And take it and go. And they will. They're like, cool, mate. Got it. And that doesn't happen here. It's different here. You can't reason as easily as you can in Australia. And the same with punters as well. Everyday people will come up. In Australia, it's more like, oh, g'day, mate. Your last film sucked, but you're great. G'day. You know, that kind of thing. Thanks for sharing. Yeah. What do Americans say to you then? I need a photo. Can I get a photo? I remember why. Actually, in Australia, one guy came up to me on the beach. And he goes, we're going to take a photo. Is that OK with you? And I was like, that's about the most brilliant bit of salesmanship ever. He closed the deal before even asking the question. We're taking the photo. Is that all right with you? I think my favorite is Aussies. When you see Aussies here, they're on holidays. Look how I go, hey, Aussie. I go, hey. You want to go for a beer? Here in New York, with mobile phones, everyone's a potential paparazzi these days. I can take it. Give me a take. I appreciate that. But the Jackmans take it in their stride. That was very intense. Do I remember? Thanks. Appreciate it. As they do the New York state of mind. So I learned my lesson. But I once went into the supermarket, and on the way out, he gave a homeless guy a bag. He goes, what is that? And I'm like, it's fried chicken. He goes, I'm a vegetarian. I'm like, I'm sorry. Taking a stroll with Hugh Jackman on a break from filming, and you meet a humble man inspired by his kids, wife, and work. Do you feel like a superstar? Superstar? No. It makes me laugh. I feel like an actor. I feel like one of the luckiest guys alive, and that I'm doing the thing that I love to do. Right now, he's loving making his latest Wolverine film. It's an honor to meet the Wolverine. An action movie based on the Marvel Comics X-Men series. What they did to me, what I am, can't be undone. Coming out with another Wolverine. Are the kids excited about that? Not really. No, Ava maybe more. She's quite into it. But she gets upset if he gets hurt. They've only seen it recently. I just figured it would be very undermining for them to see their father slicing people's heads off. It does take away my credibility when I say, please don't hit your sister. Really, Dad? But my son doesn't want to talk about it that much. Although I have seen Oscar use the fact that he's Dad's Wolverine to try and shut up and force him into your own world. Dad, quick, you've got to give this girl an autograph. I told her you're Wolverine. I'm like, this is weird. I'm like the wingman for my son. This is kind of creepy. The barter system. Learning. Did it work? Yeah. I get the autograph. I'm kidding. It's an actor's job to be a chameleon. Really? And for a role like Wolverine, all the hard work goes on behind the scenes. Do you like the transformation? I like him a bit chubbier. Makes me look better. I get to see him in all different, I get to have affairs all the time with different characters, whoever he's doing lately. The other transformation was Peter Allen, of course, and Boyd from Oz. So how did you cope with that? The first time he, I used to run lines with him. The first time he went maybe a little far the other way. It was like so camping it out. I was like, I really can't sit here and be with you. This is really just too strange. But I love Peter Allen. I love the show. It was his first thing on Broadway and it was like the American audience has just embraced you and it was like we were the new kids in town and you just took the town by storm. And I think it's the only one of my shows you haven't fallen asleep in. Don't be telling that to everyone. I'm pretty sure. Deb is famous for falling asleep. I'm so glad you're sharing this publicly. Kate Leopold premiere. Stop. Harvey Weinstein was behind us going, wake your wife up, it's embarrassing. You know, I go to the theatre, it's dark and it's quiet. I have two speeds, stop and go. So when I go there, it's dark, it's warm and I'm tired. I've been busy. It's got nothing to do with your performance. Nothing. It doesn't. I actually don't take offense because it literally is every show. I love watching him on stage. Appearing on stage as Peter Allen a decade ago was pivotal in Hugh's professional career. But ever since, it's raised speculation that Jackman is gay and his marriage to Deb a sham. Now I read that it's only recently that you've said that these rumours about your sexuality are starting to get to you. Oh, please. If I was, I would be. I don't think it's, to me, not the most interesting thing about a person anyway. But I do get frustrated for Deb because I see Deb go, this is just crazy. But it's just wrong. It's like, it's a lie. It's just the bottom line, so it's just offensive. If he was gay, fine, he would say he's gay. It has gotten so out of whack that it's stupid and yet it's annoying because it's not true. That's right, so you as an actor, you can't be able to sing, dance and be straight. Right. Well, you know, it's just ridiculous. And if you look at history, it's just a weird... And if you play a psychopath, does that mean he's a psychopath? Yeah. Well, he might be. Are you? Occasionally. Before the coffee, you didn't notice the difference? But look, it really... I think on some level it's a compliment, you know, because it only happens when you get to a certain point in your career. Yeah, that you get to be gay. It kind of does happen to everyone and it's a bit ridiculous, but whatever. Oprah's gay too, isn't she? Apparently. Oh, you hear the rumours. I mean, really. It's just silly. Yeah, silly. Thankfully, other things define Hugh Jackman. Most importantly, the great roles he now gets to play... ..like Jean Valjean in Les Mis... Who am I? Jean Valjean. ..and the acknowledgement that goes with doing his job well. Was there some sweet irony in the fact that, having now done a musical film, that people are talking about your serious acting ability? Yeah, I know, it's great. Hmm. It's so funny you mention that because I remember that, like, I did two musicals early on, which shocked me that I was even up for a musical. You know, I was an actor, theatre actor, really. And then I couldn't get seen for films. Back in Sydney, this is way back in the mid-'90s. Oh, here's the musical theatre, here's that singer. They want to put you in a box. They're entertainers. And so I'd said, oh, I've got to give up musicals. And I did. I turned down The Boy From Oz originally because I was like, no, I've got to get out, otherwise I'll never be able to do film or be seen as an actor again. So it is...it is a sweet irony, really, in the end, to get recognised as an actor through musicals. And I can now say... ..which means I'm very happy to be here in Japan. Or in Sydney or in New York, Hugh Jackman is one happy man. Not at all. And absolute proof no dream is beyond hard work. Hugh is incredibly disciplined. And I think you have courage cos you never back off. You're never scared to try something. He tries everything and then if he sets the bar there, dammit, he's going to do it. You work really hard. People don't see that. I haven't got that discipline. I just want to have fun. LAUGHTER Oh. If I was not with Deb the last 20 years, I'd be a very boring person. Oh, Steve. Oh, yeah. No, constantly. Deb has completely changed who I am in many, many ways. Deb demands every day is, this was the best day. LAUGHTER And I say, wasn't it yesterday? Yes, it was good, but today was great. See, Deb knows how to live life to the full. Every day. Don't you, bub? I try. And literally when I go to sleep every night, Deb says to me, she goes, party's over, is it? Oh. I go, babe, I've got to get some sleep. That's why I always say I love that marriage. Permanent sleep over someone to play with. Ah, the imagination. We won't go there. LAUGHTER