Hugh Jackman on Decisions and Routines

Hugh Jackman, acclaimed actor and performer, offers a deep dive into his creative journey and daily practices. He shares his insights on embracing intuition in career decisions, the power of morning routines like reading and meditation, and the significance of consistency—highlighted by his 85% Rule. Jackman discusses navigating insecurities, family values, and the transformative role of theater in his life. Plus, he reflects on the joy of puzzles as a way to engage creatively and relax amidst a busy career.

Highlights

• Hugh Jackman
  Summary:
  Who is hugh jackman? If you have to ask that, i don't know where you've been living under a rock. Hugh jackman is an academy awar nominated, golden globe antonio wardwinning performer who has made an impression on audiences around the world. He's as successful on stage in front of live crowds as he is on film. This man does it all. And there is one resource i'll mention here. He talks about converting photographs into puzzles and the web for that is portrait puzzles dot com. It'll all make sense. One quick note on timing for context.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 2
  This show is about decostti fieatiiabeo sh sonil stoi. Now ets this paticula, i think, te liteen, but nat boipoki. And then dio wty gasisis hugh jackmano ao te oter very ges, who is hugh jackman? If you have to ask that, i don't know where you've been living under a rock. I'll keep this interas short. Hugh jackman is an academy awar nominated, golden globe antonio wardwinning performer who has made an impression on audiences around the world, certainly audiences of all ages, With his multi hyphenit career persona. He's done everything. He is as successful on stage in front of live crowds as he is on film. He's a beast in the gym. This man does it all. You can find him on instagram at the hugh jackman. Twitter at real hugh jackman, on facebook, hugh jackman. And there is one resource i'll mention here. He talks about converting photographs into puzzles. And the web for that is portrait puzzles dot com. It'll all make sense. He'll tie it all together. And without further ado, please enjoy a wide ranging, thoroughly enjoyable conversation with none other than hugh jackman. One quick note on timing for context. Time 0:04:48

• Hugh Jackman - I Don't Read the Paper
  Summary:
  Hugh jackman is an academy awar nominated, golden globe antonio wardwinning performer. He has made an impression on audiences around the world with his multi hyphenit career persona. This episode was recorded on may 20 first, 20, 20 before the death of george floyd. I am so thrilled that we are able to connect on the podcast. Wanted to do this for so long.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 2
  If you have to ask that, i don't know where you've been living under a rock. I'll keep this interas short. Hugh jackman is an academy awar nominated, golden globe antonio wardwinning performer who has made an impression on audiences around the world, certainly audiences of all ages, With his multi hyphenit career persona. He's done everything. He is as successful on stage in front of live crowds as he is on film. He's a beast in the gym. This man does it all. You can find him on instagram at the hugh jackman. Twitter at real hugh jackman, on facebook, hugh jackman. And there is one resource i'll mention here. He talks about converting photographs into puzzles. And the web for that is portrait puzzles dot com. It'll all make sense. He'll tie it all together. And without further ado, please enjoy a wide ranging, thoroughly enjoyable conversation with none other than hugh jackman. One quick note on timing for context. This episode was recorded on may 20 first, 20, 20 before the death of george floyd.
  Speaker 1
  Hugh, welcome to the show. Ame grit to be man. Brakes nodded.
  Speaker 2
  I am so thrilled that we are able to connect on the podcast. Iv. Wanted to do this for so long. Y and i have so many different questions i've wanted to explore with you. Time 0:05:09

• How Did That Start?
  Summary:
  This episode was recorded on may 20 first, 20, 20 before the death of george floyd. Hugh jackman talks about converting photographs into puzzles and how he started reading to his wife in the morning. The web for that is portrait puzzles dot com. It'll all make sense.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 2
  You can find him on instagram at the hugh jackman. Twitter at real hugh jackman, on facebook, hugh jackman. And there is one resource i'll mention here. He talks about converting photographs into puzzles. And the web for that is portrait puzzles dot com. It'll all make sense. He'll tie it all together. And without further ado, please enjoy a wide ranging, thoroughly enjoyable conversation with none other than hugh jackman. One quick note on timing for context. This episode was recorded on may 20 first, 20, 20 before the death of george floyd.
  Speaker 1
  Hugh, welcome to the show. Ame grit to be man. Brakes nodded.
  Speaker 2
  I am so thrilled that we are able to connect on the podcast. Iv. Wanted to do this for so long. Y and i have so many different questions i've wanted to explore with you. And i thought we would start this might be a strange place to start, but i'll start there none the less. And that is, in the course of doing home work for this conversation, ive found an anecdote that you in the mornings sometimes read a book with your wife or read to each other. Is that something you still do. And how did that start? Every day?
  Speaker 1
  Ah, i nicked the idea from patrick stuart. Time 0:05:35

• Meditation Gives Me a Finer Energy
  Summary:
  meditation has been a tool of that provides, helps to provide clarity in some respects. The best way i can describe it is the effect that it has on me. I don't always get out o meditation like ready to, you know, do a one hour pelaton class,. but i always come out with a finer energy. A, it feels, my intention feels clearer. My listenings is er, more purposeful and and things feel easier and more connected.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 2
  I know you've meditated for decades now, and you and deb meditate in the mornings. And i say that is a segway, because at least fom me, meditation has been a tool of that provides, helps to provide clarity in some respects. Could you describe your meditation practice and what you feel are the main benefits that are derived from that practice?
  Speaker 1
  Sure. I was introduced to meditation when i was at drama school. Ah, and i and was a form of transcendental meditation. Ah, there's lots of different types of meditation. Just very briefly, it involves the use of a mantra which you are given, which you repeatedly sound. And the very basic concept is that we the nature of our minds is to always be working, always be thinking. And the trick to life is not letting that might be your master, but to let her be a servant. Then it's an incredible thing onct have become. Once it's running the show at you. No, it's very easy to get off tracks. So this period of meditation, you are given a mantre, which was described to me as the mind is often called the monkey mind in eastern philosophies. So a monkey, you know, is very energetic, and if not given something to do, will be mischievous. So the mantre is like hastily saying to the monkey mind, i need you to climb to the top of that telegraph pole, and when you get to the top, i need you to climb back down. And when you get bottom, i need you to climb back up. And when you get to the top, i need you climb back down. So it's just giving this activity. So demantaor this word that is silently repeated, ends up fading away. And the best way i can describe it is the effect that it has on me. I mean, sometimes i fall asleep, by the way, which is totally fine. And clearly, what my body needed. But when you first pour a glass of water, it's cloudy, and then in a period of time, that all settles and you see crystal clear. I throw the glass through the water. That's what meditation does for me. It's that feeling where things drop down. I have a feeling of coming home, the feeling of experiencing my true self, and not just being caught up in the mind, or a being reactive to life. And it gives me a finer energy. I don't always get out o meditation like ready to, you know, do a one hour pelaton class, but i always come out with a finer energy. A, it feels, my intention feels clearer. My listenings is er, more purposeful and and things feel easier and more connected. Time 0:14:18

• I feel His pleasure when I run
  Summary:
  There's a kind of natural energy. And what i keep saying my kids actually, don't settle. Find that thing that resonates with you in that way where you feel some kind of the pleasure of the universe of consciousness and can do it longer. I dont know how you do that, but maybe that's in the same way i don't know how you tryin for ultra marathons, for example.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  But by one of my favorite moves of all time, and definitely my favorite quote from a movie of all time, is from chariots of fire, which i loved as a kid. And eric ladel, who's the religious runner, who decides not to run on the sabbath during the olympics. You've seen them every yr, ehso this is great scene. He's meant to be going off after the olympics to do missionary work in china, handing out bibles or something. And his sisters talking to him, she's like, you' got to throw away this silly running thing. Ah, we have really important god's work to do. I why are you doing this and spending time on this? Ou na beasly, kind of accusing him of not following god's will. And he just says, he looks at her and he says, but i feel his pleasure when i run. And i've always, somehow that line, it always makes me cheer up to saying it. That's what i feel on the stage. There's a kind of natural energy. And what i keep saying my kids actually, don't settle. Find that thing that resonates with you in that way where you feel some kind of the pleasure of the universe of consciousness, like thirs, some joy, where you feel you can do it longer. And in that way, it's not such a herculean effort. Although i'm going to tell you in a second, i have a bunch of sort of rituals and things that i do to make that i can be my best. But there is a natural energy that i understand other people going. I dont know how you do that, but maybe that's in the same way i don't know how you tryin for ultra marathons, for example. Time 0:20:39

• Sitting in the Wings
  Summary:
  I always take a minute before i go on stage, literally before, to pause, ah and just connect with the senses. Even if i'm not in the opening of a show, i will stand in the wings. I first of all like to just listen to that titter of excitement as people come in to the theatre because i love the theatre myself. It reminds me of how privileged i am and how much i owe every single audience member.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  Aman, i think i'm the only actor i know whom i can be asleep within forty five minutes after getting off stage. There's something very calming. It's not its like you've had your greatest work out. You have a bath. That feeling after the bath, after a great workout, in the evening, when you just can sit and be at peace with youself, that i lave. So i limit the amount of coffee i have, just because you're battling dehydration with stage work all the time. I always, i have, i know what my routine is before i go on stage, and i'm religious about it. And that's more about quieting my mind a i don't ever want my monkey mind saying, oh, you didn't do your warm up to day, or you only half did it, or this or that, you haven't stretched, you Haven't tat, you didn't really eat very well to day. You might be the mind an my mind can easily pick upon that a the perfectional side of me. I always take a minute before i go on stage, literally before, to pause, ah and just connect with the senses. So even if i'm not in the opening of a show, i will stand in the wings. I first of all like to just listen to that titter of excitement as people come in to the theatre, because i love the theatre myself, and i remember that, and it reminds me of how privileged I am and how much i owe every single audience member. Time 0:23:27

• Christian through Actions
  Summary:
  My dad was not a a bible basher. He rarely talked about it. My mamma, i always remember her saying, she says it to this day, every one needs to feel appreciated. And so i got a lot of those lessons as i was growing into a man, with him being around. But someone people have noticed how you act is far stronger than what you say. And we all know that.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  The end of their marriage, they sourt of went down different paths, and mys. My dad was not a a bible basher. He rarely talked about it. And i remember saying, dad, because i was really about 13, 14, i was really in school, church groups, fellowship groups, and and i got one of those stickers that you put on the back of the Car. I said, dad, we should put that like we meant to do that. We meant to spread the word and do thisand when he said that to me, i was disappointed. I thought he was coppying out. But only later did i realize that when he said, people should know you're through your actions, you're so much more powerful. Ah, if someone eventually comes up to you and says, you know, there's something about you, man. I don't know what it is, but i'd love to know where i can get it, you know, then there's an opening. But someone people have noticed how you act is far stronger than what you say. And we all know that. Ah, i often speak a little more about my dad in interviews, because my mamma left when i was eight, so, ah, i was brought up from that moment on, primarily by my dad. And so i got a lot of those lessons as i was growing into a man, with him being around. But my mamma, i always remember her saying, she says it to this day, every one needs to feel appreciated. Time 0:31:30

• I Don't Care, God What It Is You Want Me To Do
  Summary:
  "I was brought up in a very religious household. A lot of the messages i was getting and instructions for life came through the examples of jesus," he says. "Even though my feelings about religion are different than what they were when i was younger, the essence is the same." 'There is some calling that is beyond the conscious brains strategizing of how to be happy and successfuln or meaningful in life'
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  I think this is probably the most vexing, most important, vital thing to work out in your life, certainly in my life. And i think about a lot to answer the question, what i do now i just, i think i need to take you back. I've never really said this before publicly, this particular thing i'm going to say. But as i told you, i was brought up in a very religious household. So a lot of the messages i was getting and instructions for life came through the examples of jesus, and through all these characters in the parables, in the in the bible. And i carry them very close to my heart. I can remember in nightly for i don't know how long, to god istic, i remember saying, i don't care, god what it is you want me to do. If you want me to collect trash, i'll colect trash if you want me to i do not care. But please make it clear to me what you want me to do. Please make that clear. I had much more fear of being on the wrong path then i had fear of failing it a path, if that makes sense. That whatever that decision was, whatever that moment of clarity becomes whatever gets you to that feeling of eric ladell and charit sofire, i feel his pleasure when i run. For me, that was always and i carry it to day. Even though my feelings about religion are different than what they were when i was younger, the essence is the same, that there is some calling, as joseph campbell would talk about, Follow your bliss. There is some calling that is beyond the conscious brains strategizing of how to be happy and successfuln or meaningful in life. There's something elemental and instinctual and honing that the people i admire the most really on, that ability ain big decisions in life, and too small day to day decisions. Ah, so now Time 0:59:19

• Is It Good Or Bad For Our Family?
  Summary:
  i have been working with a life coach, larenc and now, for four years. This is one of the biggest things we focus on, really understanding what it is you are here for,. Having those priorities very clearly set out, so that those are turning points in your life become clear. And i just remembered the thing about my dad, wen. He turned to me aside, he said, don't forget to always check that everything's hoka with deb at every point. And iwas ig a cat that's gratified. So anyway, i got off pece, but at the decision making. I still battle with that, because i can be dominated by my mind
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  I still, like you, battle with that, because i can be dominated by my mind. My brain pros and cons think this through. And i have been working with a life coach, larenc and now, for four years, and this is one of the biggest things we focus on, really understanding what it is you are here for, what it is you Want to do, having those priorities very clearly set out, so that those are turning points in your life become clear aand just to add to that when you get married, or when you make a commitment Of life, long commit men to some one, and you have kids, then the first question dab and i will always ask is, is good or bad for our family? So if it's bad, we won't do it. If it's good, we will, you know. So that's a very simple thing, but that's my number one priority. And i just remembered the thing about my dad, wen. I don't think i said it, when i got famous and things werego really well for me, he turned to me aside, he said, don't forget to always check that everything's hoka with deb at every point. And iwas ig a cat that's gratified. Ah. So anyway, i got off pece, but at the decision making. Time 1:01:24

• I've Just Come Foll Circle
  Summary:
  I do a daily design. Every day. I create as if in the past tense of what the day had been. The dreams can be crazy, can be wild. And then at the end of the day, i score it out of ten. I keep myself accountable to what i was trying to manifest or make happen. One thing, a consistent theme, and that is that i listen to the messages. They come in strange, but clear, concise ways. O ka, so i've just come foll circle. In gong to go back again, i in terms of knowing to get into acting rid following those examples, i went and studiedso edition for an acting school, and i
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  I don't think i said it, when i got famous and things werego really well for me, he turned to me aside, he said, don't forget to always check that everything's hoka with deb at every point. And iwas ig a cat that's gratified. Ah. So anyway, i got off pece, but at the decision making. I still ask for that every day, you know, i do. And i should have mentioned this up front, in terms of that first question you asked me, in terms of performing and the things you do, you know, i do a daily design. Every day. I create as if in the past tense of what the day had been. The dreams can be crazy, can be wild. And then at the end of the day, i score it out of ten. I keep myself accountable to what i was trying to manifest or make happen. And one thing, a consistent theme, and that is that i listen to the messages. They come in crazy ways. They come in strange, but clear, concise ways. O ka, so i've just come foll circle. Let me give you an example. In gong to go back again, i in terms of knowing to get into acting rid following those examples, i went and studiedso edition for an acting school, and i got in. I got in on reservelests. I didn't get on the first time round. This was a one year course i did before my three year one. I just snuck in. Time 1:02:26

• Have a design for the day
  Summary:
  I do a daily design. Every day. I create as if in the past tense of what the day had been. The dreams can be crazy, can be wild. And then at the end of the day, i score it out of ten. A consistent theme is that i listen to the messages. They come in strange, but clear, concise ways. In gong to go back again, i in terms of knowing to get into acting rid following those examples, i went and studiedso edition for an acting school, and i got in on reservelests. This was a one year course before my three year one. So anyway, i got off pece, but at the
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  And iwas ig a cat that's gratified. Ah. So anyway, i got off pece, but at the decision making. I still ask for that every day, you know, i do. And i should have mentioned this up front, in terms of that first question you asked me, in terms of performing and the things you do, you know, i do a daily design. Every day. I create as if in the past tense of what the day had been. The dreams can be crazy, can be wild. And then at the end of the day, i score it out of ten. I keep myself accountable to what i was trying to manifest or make happen. And one thing, a consistent theme, and that is that i listen to the messages. They come in crazy ways. They come in strange, but clear, concise ways. O ka, so i've just come foll circle. Let me give you an example. In gong to go back again, i in terms of knowing to get into acting rid following those examples, i went and studiedso edition for an acting school, and i got in. I got in on reservelests. I didn't get on the first time round. This was a one year course i did before my three year one. I just snuck in. And i was so excited. After graduating as a journalist, i came her to get to acting school for one year. Time 1:02:38

• Do the Work That You Need To Do
  Summary:
  i was more prone to be an overworker and over a and missed some of the fun of my life because of it. I on film, of letting go on stage a, of not letting my own expectations get in away. And if if we come back to the design of the day, o fel, remembering the phrasing you used, is that a paragraph that you write down in a journal or type out in the morning? It's past tense for the day to come. Its happened. Soits, yes, it's past tense. It's already happened. There's no i really hope, i think that i'm going to try.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  You say, better work on that, bo, i really have, because i can be a bit of a controlof you. Worked on it. Ah, with laurence anne an, my coach, she always joking as she goes, oh, how perfect tommy. She ay, she's got, you got this altrigo, perfect tommy in there. She gets it from buckaroo bons on. If you ever saw that lady's move, know? Yes. O, and perfect tommy, right? She goes, so you're perfect, tommy. So, you know, sometimes, even when you gave me thet complimet of the beginning, when you say, you know, you seem to be, you know, ou arwas kindolike, is that the real me? Or is that just perfect tommy? You know, so. But she's really made me work on that and to trust myself. Do the work that you need to do. Don't do an ounce more than you need to do. And i was more prone to be an overworker and over a and missed some of the fun of my life because of it. And i've really worked hard on doing that. I on film, of letting go on stage a, of not letting my own expectations get in away.
  Speaker 2
  And if if we come back to the design of the day, o fel, remembering the phrasing you used, is that a paragraph that you write down in a journal or type out in the morning, which if'm if i getting
  Speaker 1
  This rat is to day i did ax day i felt this, it's past tense for the day to come. Its happened. Soits, yes, it's past tense. It's already happened. There's no i really hope, i think that i, i'm going to try. I will like to day, my, my son and i had the best hour together, laughing and talking, and we connected some of the most elemental things and ways we've never connected. That kind of thingit will have. I and i do that every morning on a text, which i send to her. Time 1:10:30

• The Best Part of My Life Is My Family Life
  Summary:
  Soits, yes, it's past tense. It's already happened. There's no i really hope, i think that i, i'm going to try. I will like to day, my, my son and i had the best hour together,. We connected some of the most elemental things and ways we've never connected. That kind of thingit will have. Bud ane ol go for more. There's new levels. There's other things. So i write that every day, and then either that night, or if i'm too tired in the morning, i read it again and go off. Wyi shid that was four a tant like that. They did not turn
  Transcript:
  Speaker 1
  Its happened. Soits, yes, it's past tense. It's already happened. There's no i really hope, i think that i, i'm going to try. I will like to day, my, my son and i had the best hour together, laughing and talking, and we connected some of the most elemental things and ways we've never connected. That kind of thingit will have. I and i do that every morning on a text, which i send to her. Becauseas she says, you know, we all need to be accountable to someone a and i'm looking in them now, our relationship goes to new levels of honesty and intimacy. So that's, you kno, just just that kind of thing that the devil i can o. It's the best, really, the most successful part of my life is my family life. Bud ane ol go for more. There's new levels. There's other things. There must be things that i'm keeping hidden, or i'm ashamed of that, that i should share, you know. So i write that every day, and then either that night, or if i'm too tired in the morning, i read it again and go off. Wyi shid that was four a tant like that. They did not turn out at all like that. And then it's got to do with belief, really. And i'm new to this. Man, like, my wife's always been into manifestation. And i was like, i don't know if that's the way to live life, like it isn't more to be Time 1:11:48

• You Work Better With The 85 Percent Rule
  Key takeaways:
  • Rowing is a great exercise for the posterior chain and other compound movements, and can help to improve breathing and relaxation.
  • Imagining the activity is already completed can help to reduce anxiety and improve performance.
  Transcript:
  Speaker 2
  That's as excellent advice, no, that the rower hits your enti almost your entire posterior chain. And then you do some pu and yu're you're in good shape, ye.
  Speaker 1
  It' such a good building exercise for dead lifts and all these cor movements, compound movements, getting you scapula, everything sort of in the right place, and your breathing and Relaxing your neck, you know, at the same time as doing it.
  Speaker 2
  Ah, i would say the rower, and i love the the 85 % run at 85 % effort example that you gave. I find so much truth in that statement. I haven't ever thought of it. But you could apply that to sitting down and writing. You could apply it to almost anything where being or pretense is not your friend.
  Speaker 1
  Its not going to help you. N no. And that's my i gave, is got different things. If i was coaching me myself, i give, i was the coach and jackman was on my team, i wouldn't put more pressure on him, push him more. I wouldn't yell at him, scream that i've got that motivation. If anything, i have had to work from building up insecurity. So i'm not good enough. I need to work extra hard. Ah, if i do everything perfectly and i work my as off, then i'll be a cak. That kind of thing, which in the end, does certainly limitd your ability to enjoy life, or enjoy the row or the show, or anything like that. But it doesn't get the best out of you. It really doesn't. So i mentally, quite often during the day, just before i do an activity, imagine that it's done, the feeling i have when it's done and gone well. And i go into it with that a. I love that that victor frankle, live life as though it's ha second time around. But you got it wrong the first time. Ha, ha, a h h, it's a good one. And that' that's all works for me. Or even if you practise a simple thing, just sit down and as you're breathing in, imagine that you're breathing out. Cause a lot of us, me included, and, and i got this from my singing teacher, i breathe in with a or i go to sing this big note, or i glass how it goes. Well, ina, and all sud um tense, and my breathing's gone up, my lariac goes up, and i've i gong to have to work my eyes off together, no, tt, right. Whereas the great singers, the ones that make you melt when you listen to them sing, when they are breathing in preparing, it's like their breathing out. They relax as they breathe in. Now they' alrady prepared. So there'se some of the little things i use. And i i suspect you're a little similar to me, tim ried the a, you work better wit the 85 central.
  Speaker 2
  I definitely do. Time 1:22:25