Hugh Jackman’s X-Men audition tape from 1999 resurfaces – as the actor reveals how he won over Marvel’s casting agents in just 20 seconds
Hugh Jackman has celebrated 20 years since making his debut as Wolverine in X-Men by watching back his original audition tape for the role.
The actor, 51, cringed on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday as he watched grainy footage of himself reading lines for director Bryan Singer in 1999.
In the video, the Australian hunk attempts an American accent – which has since vastly improved – while effortlessly exuding Wolverine’s trademark arrogance.
Where it all began: Hugh Jackman has celebrated 20 years since making his debut as Wolverine in X-Men by watching back his original audition tape for the role
To finish off the scene, Hugh performed a dramatic claw gesture with his fingers and pulled a wide smile.
‘A little more magician than Wolverine!’ Hugh joked to talk show host Jimmy Fallon, after watching his own attempt at emulating Wolverine’s claws.
Hugh revealed that his audition was actually very quick, lasting ‘about 20 seconds’, and that he was actually auditioning as a ‘back up’ for another actor.
He’s a natural! The actor, 51, cringed on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday as he watched grainy footage of himself reading lines for director Bryan Singer in 1999
At least he tried! In the video, the Australian hunk attempts an American accent – which has since vastly improved – while effortlessly exuding Wolverine’s trademark arrogance
‘When I walked into that room, I was pretty sure that I wasn’t playing the role. It was a weird audition because [Scottish actor] Dougray Scott had the role and then he got caught up in Mission: Impossible 2,’ he explained.
‘It was like this “Hail Mary” to begin with, which is probably the best way to do an audition. You’re going in like, “Meh,”‘ Hugh shrugged.
Luckily, Hugh ended up scoring the gig and went on to play Wolverine in seven more films, including X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, Logan, X-Men: The Last Stand and Deadpool 2.
Role of a lifetime: After landing the role in X-Men, Hugh played Wolverine in seven more films, including X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, Logan and X-Men: The Last Stand
The role was his Hollywood breakthrough and transformed him from an obscure Australian actor into a household name.
In 2001, he won an Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films award for his performance in the first X-Men movie.
Hugh also won VGA’s Best Performance By A Human Male for the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009.
Breakthrough: The role was his Hollywood breakthrough and transformed him from an obscure Australian actor into a household name