People News

Hugh Jackman's wife likes costume play

Jan 28, 2013, 11:01 GMT

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

Hugh Jackman's wife likes him to dress up as his film characters in the bedroom.

The 44-year-old actor has revealed his spouse Deborra-Lee Furness - who he has been married to since 1996 - likes him to return home from his film sets in costume so she can pretend she's having a romance with another man.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: 'She likes me coming home in costume because it makes her feel like she's having an affair.

'She's eight years older than me, which is no big issue, and is a fantastic actress who has taught me a lot.'

Hugh's big screen outfits have included a skin-tight leather bodysuit for his portrayal of Wolverine in the 'X-Men' films and as nineteenth century Frenchman Jean Valjean in 'Les Miserables'.

Despite his huge success, the 'Movie 43' star insists his wife keeps him grounded and doesn't let him get arrogant.

Hugh - who has two adopted children, Oscar, 12, and Ava, seven, with Deborra-Lee - explained: 'She's the one that keeps my feet firmly on the ground - and she has a great sense of humour. When I was named Sexiest Man Alive [by People magazine] a few years ago, she said, 'Obviously, Brad Pitt was not available this year.' '

Although he's now older and wiser with children of his own, Hugh admits he was a 'loudmouth idiot' when he was younger after his mother Grace abandoned him and his siblings, as well as his father Chris, when the family relocated from England to Australia.

He said: 'I was a loudmouth idiot at 18. I had ridiculous rage and male bravado in those days.

'I had some very dark periods. I wanted mum to come back because I felt that everybody stared at us as being abnormal. It was an odd situation for a mother not to be there. I thought for years she was going to come back. There was a time, when I was about 12, I thought they were going to get back together. They didn't and I took that anger and frustration out on others in my teens.'