Jackman Promises A 'Good Time' At Oscar Telecast

Hugh Jackman tell the Associated Press he knows the Oscars ceremony isn't about him, but he's looking forward to enjoying it all the same. The screen and stage superstar chatted with the AP in a phone interview yesterday, Friday, February 13th, less than two weeks before the Feb. 22 ceremony which will be airing on ABC.

In the relaxed interview Jackman discussed his upcoming Academy Award hosting duties saying,"Celebration is the key. I'm certainly going to have a good time. If I'm not going to have a good time, how the hell is anybody else?" 

Academy Awards producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon have said they plan to take the ceremony in a new direction. Asking the multitalented star of "Australia" and the "X-Men" films to host was their first apparent step.

The rest of the details have been under tight wraps, but Jackman, who has served as host of the Tony Awards for three times so far, dropped a few hints - including the rumored more "intimate" look and setting for the ceremony's home, the Kodak Theatre.

To read the entire AP interview click here.

Previous hosts have usually been TV or film comedians including Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, John Stewart, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres and others.

Hugh Jackman was recently voted People's Sexiest Man of 2008.

In 2000, he was cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's X-Men. Jackman later reprised his role in 2003's X2: X-Men United, and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. Jackman starred as Leopold in the 2001 romantic comedy film Kate & Leopold, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Jackman also starred in 2001 action/drama Swordfish, along with John Travolta, and Halle Berry.

Jackman sang the role of Billy Bigelow in Carousel in a special concert performance at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York City in 2002. In 2004 he played the title role of vampire hunter Gabriel Van Helsing in Van Helsing. In 2004, Jackman won a Tony Award for his Broadway portrayal of Australian songwriter and performer Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz. He hosted the Tony Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

In 2005 after his award-winning role in The Boy from Oz, he jumped into Darren Aronofsky's sci-fi experience The Fountain. Then Jackman filmed The Prestige directed by Christopher Nolan and also starring Christian Bale.

In 2007, Jackman produced and guest starred in the unsuccessful television drama Viva Laughlin. Jackman is also preparing a number of movies which he will both produce and star in, including Wolverine, estimated to begin filming in early 2008, and a remake of Carousel in which he will play Billy Bigelow.

Jackman's other stage credits include "Carousel," "Oklahoma!" "Sunset Boulevard" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be
presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at
Hollywood & Highland Center(R), and televised live by the ABC
Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live
in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's
preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than
6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In
addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to
select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse
year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides
financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations
and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion
picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and
Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides
access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and
other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the
entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

 

 

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