August 2009
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Actor
Hugh Jackman, star of X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The most stunning place I’ve ever stayed in … was a place called Digger’s Rest in Western Australia. There is almost nothing there. Just a little house used as a stop-off point for drovers moving cattle through. The film crew set up 300 tents, a pool table and a bar. We had an incredible time for three weeks.
Being in the real outback is a bit like being on Mars. Filming Australia gave me the chance to see places never seen by 99% of the people who live there. The whole middle of the country is a vast, undiscovered frontier. My favourite place was Carlton Hill in Kununurra. I recall being on top of a horse there feeling faint in the 53º heat.
There are many perks to being a movie star. One of them is getting the chance to stay in some beautiful hotels. I love The Dorchester in London.
You can’t beat an early morning jog through Hyde Park. I like how you can find yourself in a green space where you have to look out for horses right in the middle of a bustling metropolis. London’s parks are a magnificent feature. As a huge rugby, cricket and soccer fan, it’s great to see everyone out there playing ball games until late in the evening.
Africa is a magical continent. I immediately wanted to go after seeing the film Out of Africa. It was Meryl Streep’s comment: ‘I’ve got to get away. I’ll go anywhere … Africa, Australia…well, maybe not Australia,’ that swung it for me. Us Australians think we have everything you could want back home but Africa is full of surprises even for us.
Greece fascinates me. Whenever I am there I really get into the ancient history of the country, especially the story of Socrates. He has fascinated me ever since I was a teenager. Despite him dying around 2,500 years ago, I think his philosophical musings could and should be revisited. Perhaps in a musical version of his life ... starring myself.
Watch X-Men Origins: Wolverine with Hugh Jackman onboard (showing on selected flights)
