Before Wolverine, Hugh Jackman Made the Ballsiest Career Move To Give Up a Potentially Life-changing Acting Job For One Thing Many Actors Don’t Give Importance to
- Hugh Jackman chose a three-year acting course over a 'Neighbours' role.
- He aimed to master his craft for Broadway and prestigious theaters.
- His dedication led to acclaimed Broadway roles and multiple award nominations.
In the cutthroat world of acting, career choices can define a path and future. Before Hugh Jackman became the famous Wolverine, he made a bold and unexpected decision that some might have thought was pretty risky.
At just 23, Jackman faced a big decision: he could either sign up for a two-year gig on the hit Aussie soap Neighbours or spend three years on an acting course. Jackman chose the latter, thinking it would get him ready for big gigs like Broadway—sometimes, it’s better to go for future wins rather than quick wins.
Hugh Jackman’s Strategic Decision to Invest in His Craft
Hugh Jackman’s choice to forgo the immediate security of a Neighbours role for a three-year acting course was a very calculated risk. At the time, Neighbours offered a stable, high-profile opportunity that many young actors would eagerly accept.
The star decided to gamble on education instead. He wanted to polish his skills and chase big dreams like performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and hitting Broadway. So, he chose the long road, hoping it would lead to bigger stages and fancier costumes! He told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast:
My thing was I really want to go to the Royal Shakespeare Company in the National Theater. I want to be on Broadway. Does two years on Neighbours make me feel internally right that when I turn up for that audition for whatever I’m Broadway, that I should be there? Because I firmly believe, and I say this to young actors all the time, ‘Do whatever you have got to do to internally feel like you deserve it.’
Since then, Jackman has appeared in five Broadway shows. His early theatre roles were in the original Australian productions of Beauty and the Beast as Gaston in 1995 and Sunset Boulevard as Joe Gillis in 1996. By 1998, he was catching even more attention, earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his role as Curly McLain in the West End revival of Oklahoma!
In 2002, the actor performed in an Off-Broadway concert of Carousel as Billy Bigelow. Then he starred as Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz in 2004. Fast forward to 2021-2023, our Aussie hero played con man Harold Hill in the Broadway revival of The Music Man.
The Actors who Never Went to Traditional Acting Schools, Unlike Hugh Jackman
Not all Hollywood stars go through traditional acting schools. Take Leonardo DiCaprio, for example. He’s a big name in the industry but never attended a regular acting school. Instead, he honed his craft through early acting gigs and by working with big directors.
Then there’s Tom Cruise. He moved to New York to pursue acting, and just six months later, he landed a role in the film Taps. Similarly, Johnny Depp, Joaquin Phoenix, Christian Bale, and the late Heath Ledger are among those who never attended acting schools. They’re not alone—many more Hollywood stars have followed similar paths.
They all honed their acting skills on set and through networking. These stories show that while school can help, real-world experience and natural talent often matter more in acting. The varied backgrounds of successful actors prove there’s no single path to fame—what really counts is the effort you put in and how you grab the opportunities that come your way.
Neighbours: A New Chapter is available to stream on Amazon Freevee!
