Do you think X Men 2 moves things on to a different level?

HUGH JACKMAN: Absolutely, I think it’s better this time. I used to say to people that I thought the second one would be better, after the first film had set it up. But ironically it doesn’t matter whether you have seen the first one. This is funnier, more intense and emotionally a little more moving and for me is a better film. I think this movie is generally more relaxed and confident. And it is more intense and darker as well as being funnier.

Why has all this fame not changed you?

You have got to remember that I come from Australia and that star behavior is just not tolerated there. And I agree with that attitude. There are always enough people around to knock me into shape if I get carried away.

What about having to appear in a brief nude scene?

As the script drafts came along they never said that Wolverine was naked, just that he ran through the snow and jumped into the lake. I asked if we really needed the jump into the lake. Thank goodness we didn’t do that because it was freezing. I came out in a g-string, flip-flops and a dressing gown and jokingly said that I wanted a closed set. I thought I was being taken seriously because they said the set would be cleared. Then at the end of the first take as I ran round the corner of the set I discovered that they had gathered 30 women from the set. The women were waving $5 notes. Imagine my dilemma because I had my claws on so if I tried to cover myself it could have been painful.

After X Men, you are to star in another big movie, Van Helsing. How does it feel to be a king of the blockbusters?

I was worried about being in two blockbusters two years in a row because I don't just want to be seen as an actor who is in summer adventure epics. And there was a risk that Van Helsing, with all these monsters - it features Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster and The Wolf Man - could have turned into a Monster Mash. But I have seen some great footage from it and I am feeling privately very smug about the whole thing. But I want to keep as many doors open as possible. That’s why I’m going back on stage to do The Boy From Oz about the Australian singer/songwriter Peter Allen who died from Aids. To do the first Australian musical staged on Broadway is thrilling. It feels like an honor. Like I’ve said, all these doors have opened up and the most surprising is musical theatre. My mates from school still refuse to come and see me in a musical unless I pay for their ticket. Ironically musicals are back in vogue.

What was your introduction to comic books?

I never read comics as a kid and when I had the X Men comics slipped under the door of my trailer I was amazed at how helpful they were. The images were so economical and extraordinary. I used them for inspiration for some of the fighting stances as Wolverine. But at first I didn’t know anything about X Men. There is a pub band in Australia called The Uncanny X Men and I couldn’t believe they were making a film about them. I love the band but thought only about seven people knew about them.

Do you have a toy model of Wolverine?

I have a toy of Wolverine that is about a foot tall and quite squishy. If you press its belly button you hear my voice. My son has taken with it and takes it to bed sometime. It’s quite unnerving.

Would you return for X Men 3?

They might not ask me back, you never know. I would find it hard to see someone else do the role.

Was there a degree of reverence at working alongside heavyweight actors Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart?

There was from me. When I started to study acting I remember Patrick Stewart’s version of The Merchant Of Venice that mesmerized me and a video by Sir Ian doing the Scottish play which was one of the most incredible things I ever saw. These were the sort of things that crystallized the thought that I wanted to be an actor. To be in my first Hollywood picture with these guys was like being with Pacino and DeNiro. I believe they are the English versions. They have the same weight, range and talent. I was a little in awe of them. I was more nervous and excited at working with these guys than the Hollywood machine.

What was the funniest thing that happened during filming?

My sister came to visit the set one day. She is an athlete and looks like me. So we got her dressed up in my Wolverine make-up. It was disturbing because it was me. She was sneaked on when we were filming and Bryan started shouting for my sister to say the line because he really thought it was me. So when I walked on there was hysterics. I put my hand on my sister’s shoulder and said "I’ll take over here, sis.”

It’s been said you resemble Clint Eastwood, so did you study his movies before X Men?

Bryan asked me to watch Mel Gibson in Mad Max in which his performance is astonishing and Dirty Harry. I also watched some Sergio Leone films. But I had never heard that I looked like Clint Eastwood. I did meet him once at a USA convention called Showest. I got up the courage to talk to him. I introduced myself and said that a few people had said we looked alike. And he just said, “Yup.” He couldn’t have cared less.