Welcome to the Shrine to Actors

Tonight Hugh Jackman hosted the 81st Academy Awards ceremony. The Oscars telecast was the best it’s been in years, and much of that was due to Hugh Jackman’s talent, charisma, and charm. His opening speech and musical number were creative, funny, and designed to make people laugh and have a good time. He greeted the big names out in the audience, joining them on the floor or–in the case of Frank Langella–sharing the same seat. We all love Hugh, and it seems his fellow actors love him too. And what’s not to love?

A few years back I saw Hugh Jackman perform in The Boy from Oz on Broadway. He blew the doors off of the theater. The man we’d been used to seeing onscreen as Wolverine was suddenly leaping across the stage in shiny pants and a floral shirt, belting out tunes with gutso. He danced on top of the piano, long legs flying, and it was an incredible sight to behold. Hugh Jackman is a positive force on stage. He’s loving every minute of it and it shows–the absolute pure joy of entertaining. He was the exact host the Oscars needed.

As you can see in the video above, Hugh Jackman had the audience in the palm of his hand. The showrunners should have actually used him more, but as Will Smith later joked about Hugh napping, he might not have had the energy to be on stage more than he was. Aside from the opening number, he also did a big number with Beyonce and the young couples from High School Musical and Mamma Mia. He was positively on fire, never missing a note or a step. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t also a joy to listen to his lilting Australian accent for the whole evening. Hugh Jackman can host the show every year if he likes. The whole Oscars telecast just got a shot of adrenaline from his boisterous presence.

Prior to the show, Hugh appeared on the Barbara Walters special. They spoke about his career, his relationship with his mother (who left the family when Hugh was 8), and his admiration for his disciplinarian father who was “tough but fair”. The best story he told was about his first time singing at Carnegie Hall. When his father showed up in black tie for the event, Hugh told him that black tie wasn’t required–everyone would just be dressed in regular suits. His father replied, “My son is singing at Carnegie Hall. It’s a black tie event for me.” Jackman was almost teary himself as he remembered his father watching him from one of the box seats, the only man in black tie, with tears of pride in his eyes. He made sure to mention how much his father did, raising five children on his own for ten years while holding down a stressful job.

The next best part of the Barbara Walters special was at the very end, where Walters let out her naughty side. Apparently on closing night of The Boy from Oz, Jackman had brought Walters up on stage and had performed a lap dance for her. At the end of the interview, Walters coyly expressed a wish for a repeat performance. Game as ever, Jackman jumped up and did a flirtatious grinding dance for her benefit and then before she dissolved into giggling embarrassment, he nearly tackled her in a big hug. He’s truly adorable and lovable and just so full of life and excitement. Walters said on her special that it’s been a long time since we’ve had a star like Jackman–a multi-talent that can sing and dance and act. He’s a throwback to the golden age of films and yet he’s also a modern dramatic, romantic, and action star.

And according to People magazine, he’s the sexiest man alive. Can’t argue with that.

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