By Nicki Gostin

From the moment that "X-Men" catapulted Hugh Jackman to Hollywood superstardom, the Aussie has been associated with the hirsute role of Wolverine. Sure, he's branched out to other film roles, won a Tony for playing Peter Allen on Broadway in "The Boy From Oz" (Jackman's a song-and-dance man from way back) and, most recently, hosted the 2009 Oscars. But the hairy mutant, who returns to the big screen in the new "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," is pure Jackman, and he's made the actor a genuine sex symbol. Jackman sat down with NEWSWEEK's Nicki Gostin to talk about the latest big-screen installment in the mutant franchise, the dangers of wielding Wolverine's razor claws and whether he did any, uh, "manscaping" for the role. Excerpts:
 
Gostin: You're very buff in this movie. When was the last time you had carbs? 2002?
Jackman: Probably this morning. Trust me, I had them the day I was finished. The worst thing about making this film was Ryan Reynolds' schedule meant we couldn't shoot all the stuff with him we needed to shoot, so we decided to wait and shoot again in January, which was a full six months after we wrapped the main film. I was like, "OK, I'm off for a little holiday for the first time to the South of France and the Greek Islands and I have to stay in this shape." That was honestly the most brutal part of it. Because I had been on one piece of brown toast at 3:30 in the morning and then a palmful of brown rice at 10:30 in the morning. Those were the only carbs I had.
 
So how did you cope with being in the South of France?
I just cheated. If you look closely at the movie, there are a couple of scenes where Wolverine looks like he's having a couple of fat days. I did as good as I could, but I'd been going for a year and a half, and honestly, I'd kind of hit the wall.
 
In the ad, you run down a hallway with your razor hands. Did it ever remind you of chalk on a blackboard?
No, it's worse than that. I kept stabbing myself. I have scars on my thighs. Poor Taylor Kitsch, who plays Gambit in the movie, I stabbed him in the hand. If it was close one-on-one fighting near the face, I'd opt for the computer, but I was constantly at war with myself, because I'm also a producer and I knew how expensive it was to do that. In one scene, I said, "Taylor, mate, I think we'll be fine, I'm going to put on the claws." He pulled back very sharply at one point, and I looked down at my own hand and there are only two claws on there, and the third is stuck in Taylor's hand.
 
So what happened when you needed to go to the bathroom?
It's OK. I've worked that one out. They come off pretty easy. I didn't turn into the world's fastest mohel.
 
Did you have a chest-hair groomer on set?
There was no manscaping whatsoever. I think I should probably not be admitting that, but it's all me. It's not really common now to see a whole lot of hair in a movie, but there you go. I'm totally fine with it. Hey, he's meant to be animalistic.
 
Someone stole a print of the movie and put it up online. Do you think that person should be beheaded or given life imprisonment?
I would probably think both would be a little excessive. Actually, it's very serious. … I know they'll catch him.
 
You must have been upset.
I had been in the post-production suite with the visual-effects guys, and you could just feel the air go out of the room. I felt for those guys, and of course I was angry at the time. I've never seen a movie downloaded like that, because I want to see the final movie and I like to see it on the big screen, particularly a movie like this. In the end, I got over it pretty quickly.
 
Is it true Dougray Scott was originally going to be Wolverine?
Yep, I saw him at the opening of Fox studios in Australia. I'd just started "X-Men." He was there doing "Mission Impossible II," which was the reason he couldn't do it. We were being introduced to the press, and as he stepped up, he looked down the line straight at me and waved. I went up to him afterwards and said, "Mate, you know it's got nothing to do with me, but I feel bad." He was like, "Mate, don't worry, it's just a business. Go and rip it up."
 
Any plans to return to Broadway?
I'm hoping next year. We're working on a production of "Houdini."
 
I was really impressed that you played such a campy character as Peter Allen of "The Boy From Oz" on Broadway right when your movie career was heating up. Did you see it as a brave move?
No. I've had a couple of people say that to me. The producers had talked to me about doing it in Australia, and at the time, I could see myself getting boxed into this musical theater world, which was the last thing I thought I would ever do, let alone be boxed into. So I made a decision not to do it, and then I went to see it in Australia, and I thought, "Man, I've made such a mistake here. This is the best role I've ever seen." From that moment, I made a very conscious choice to not be so Machiavellian about things and always be thinking about strategy. Sometimes you've just got to go with your gut. Then the producers called me and said they were thinking of taking it to Broadway, and I said, "Yes, I'm in." It was instant for me.
 
Your dad was a strict dad. Are you strict?
Yeah, pretty strict. According to my kids, I'm very strict. I think I'm not strict compared to my dad, but my wife thinks I'm strict. Good cop, bad cop. I'm more of the bad cop.
 
You always seem happy. Ever scream at your assistant about ice cubes in your Coke?
No. What gets me is night shoots. From about 2 a.m. on. I did too many overnight shifts at a Shell petrol station in Sydney. I have very little stamina to go all night. I also get pretty grumpy when I'm hungry. I'm a simple, typical man really. If I sleep and you feed me, I'm a pretty happy guy.
 
When you're in L.A., do you have all the Aussies round for a barbecue?
Yes; today I'm doing the junket and racing back at 1 for an hour and a half. It's a bit of a fancy-pants barbecue because we're staying at a hotel. We're having everyone up to the pool. So if anyone is going to the Peninsula Hotel today, cancel your plans because we're going to be really obnoxious and take over. Sausages will be flying.