Hugh Jackman: Who BEING A DAD... IS SCARY!'

THE AUSSIE ACTOR CHATS FEAR, FATHERHOOD AND WHAT HE'S LEARNED FROM HIS LATEST FILM

- Sara Tapia

Starring in his latest film, The Son, proved to be very eye-opening for Hugh Jackman. The 54-year-old – who plays a divorced father struggling to help his troubled teenage son with his mental health – says while being a dad to Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17, helped shape his performance, he also learnt a lot about parenthood from the role. “It changed me as a parent, in many ways, I think, doing the film,” he explains.

Here, the Aussie actor reveals his views on masculinity, mental health and how therapy has helped him heal…

What did you bring from your experience as a parent to the movie? 

Erm-humility [laughs]. How little we know, how scary it is and how desperate I have been at times for feeling in control, and safety and strength ... And how hard it is negotiating when your partner doesn't agree with you, which happens a lot too.

It's a precarious journey. And I think one of the reasons I wanted to do it was actually exploring that vulnerability that we all have as parents in life… Mental health issues are everywhere.

What did you, as a parent, do to help your children navigate teenage life?