Paparazzi!: Doggy Duty

Talk about man's best friend! Hugh Jackman, sporting a full beard and mustache, totes his adorable French bulldog Peaches for a stroll through New York's West Village neighborhood on Tuesday.

Hugh Jackman Injured in Cricket Stunt

Hugh Jackman was left nursing a painful groin injury after a TV cricket stunt with Australian bowler Shane Warne on Sunday went wrong.

The Aussie actor turned out to watch his native country's team's battle with England in the latest test of The Ashes series in Melbourne and he went in to bat during a time-out TV segment with Warne.

But Jackman's pride at playing with his cricket hero soon turned to pain when one of Warne's bowls hit him in the groin. The X-Men star was seen doubled over, but was able to laugh off the incident in friendly banter with the sportsman.

Jackman said, "I didn't pick it,' while Warne cheekily replied, "Don't rub 'em, count 'em."

The actor is already nursing a bruised ego after crashing into a lighting rig when a zip-wire stunt for Oprah Winfrey's TV show went wrong earlier this month.

Hugh Jackman Injured in Oprah Appearance

Hugh Jackman sustained a minor facial injury while making a dramatic entrance to a taping of Oprah Winfrey's talk show at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday.

The Australian actor, 42, flew on a zip-line cable from the top sail of the famous landmark down to the stage, but hit the brakes too late, flipped up into a lighting rig and injured his right eye.

Winfrey immediately called for a break in filming, as paramedics rushed to the stage – but the injury was minor, and People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive 2008 was able to continue with his appearance after being tended to.

"That's gonna swell," said Winfrey, 56, as Jackman returned with a small piece of tape under his eye and a visible bruise beneath it. The actor then headed down into the front row to comfort his son, Oscar, 10, who was upset by the accident.

"That was so much fun until the end," he said. Referring the Winfrey's previous guest, he added with a laugh: "Bono was meant to do this, but they couldn't afford the insurance."

Jackman was at pains to make clear it was not the stunt team's fault. He had had a successful practice run earlier, but said he was distracted by the 6,000-strong crowd. "I came down waving to everyone, looking over Sydney Harbor, saw my dad, the kids and you, went to pull the brake and then boing," he explained to Winfrey. "Totally my bad."

"God he hit that hard," Winfrey told the audience later. "Ooooh, we're gonna see that on the news. Over and over and over again. 'Hugh injured today. Ziplining on Oprah.' "

Jackman later returned for a stunning finale, singing "I Still Call Australia Home" with the Qantas Children's Choir. He was joined by fellow guest Olivia Newton-John, then Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman and finally Russell Crowe as the crowd unfurled a gigantic Australian flag over their heads.

Mishaps aside, Winfrey said she's loved her time in Australia. "No matter what we show you, it does not compare to actually being here," she told her TV viewers. "I will be back."

Hugh Jackman Takes Fitness Tips From The Rock

Hugh Jackman has been taking tips from former wrestler Dwayne Johnson as he struggles to bulk up for his latest Wolverine movie.

The Australian actor is bringing his X-Men character back for a second solo outing and director Darren Aronofsky has ordered him to hit the gym and make sure he is even more muscled for the X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel.

Jackman admits he's finding it tough to put on 25 pounds of muscle for the role as the clawed mutant before filming begins early next year, so he called The Rock for advice.

He told Entertainment Weekly, "(Twenty five pounds) is more than I ever have (put on) for the role. It's not easy for me. Because I'm actually quite long and lean. I had a chat with Dwayne Johnson, who did 25 pounds for his movie (Faster). I rang him up and was like, 'Okay, tell me what's going on'."

The website reports Jackman followed Johnson's tips and is now consuming around 6,000 calories a day to gain the extra muscle, gorging on chicken, steak, and brown rice.

Johnny Depp's Pirates Character was Originally Written for Hugh Jackman

Johnny Depp almost missed out on playing his famous Pirates Of The Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow - the part was intended for Hugh Jackman.

Depp has thrilled moviegoers with his portrayal of the flamboyant pirate, who the actor has admitted was inspired by Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards, in all three films of the franchise.

He's currently shooting the next instalment, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, set for release in 2011 - but the screenwriter of the original film, Stuart Beattie, has stunned fans by revealing Depp was not his first choice for the role.

Beattie wanted Jackman for the part - but the Australian X-Men star was a relatively unknown actor at the time, and Disney bosses opted to hire Depp.

He tells Fox News, "I initially wrote that character with Hugh Jackman in mind. Hence the name Captain Jack Sparrow."

And Beattie also admits his pirate project took a decade to come to fruition: "I spent ten years pitching it to Disney and they weren't interested. Then finally, I got a call to come back in."

Hugh Jackman Too Busy for Oscars...Again

Hugh Jackman has been forced to turn down the chance to host the Academy Awards for a second time due to scheduling conflicts.

The Australian actor hosted the Oscars in 2009 and was asked back for this year's show, but he couldn't accept the offer, leaving the job to Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.

Academy bosses have been left disappointed again after seeking out Jackman's talents for the 2011 bash, because the hunk is too busy shooting X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2.

According to Deadline.com, the blockbuster will be shot in both New York and Tokyo, Japan.

The next Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on February 27th.

Hugh Jackman Swaps Avon for Wolverine

Hugh Jackman has pulled out of a girlie role in new movie Avon Man to concentrate on bulking up for the next Wolverine blockbuster.

The Australian hunk had signed up to play an unemployed car dealer who swaps motors for cosmetics and becomes Avon's top selling door-to-door rep.

But Jackman has now quit the project, which was due to start filming this autumn, and will instead focus on preparing to reprise his role as a muscled mutant in a sequel to last year's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, according to Deadline.com.

Jackman will still act as a producer on Avon Man as movie bosses search for a replacement.

Paparazzi!: Daddy Duty

Proud papa Hugh Jackman follows son Oscar, 10, and daughter Ava, 4, as they race ahead during a New York City stroll Thursday.

Paparazzi!: A "Hugh" Salute

He's sexy and an all-around nice guy! Hugh Jackman poses for photos with members of the United States Marine Corps Friday during Fleet Week in New York.

Paparazzi!: Scoot Over

Who needs a cab? Apparently not Hugh Jackman, who hits the streets of New York City on a scooter Wednesday.

Paparazzi!: A League of His Own

Hugh Jackman attends the Drama League Awards Friday at New York's Marriott Marquis, where the actor was honored for his role in the Broadway play A Steady Rain.

Paparazzi!: Head & Shoulders

What's so funny? Hugh Jackman tickles 4-year-old daughter Ava's funny bone Monday while the two take an entertaining walk through N.Y.C.

Paparazzi!: Rain Man

What a doting dad! Hugh Jackman braves the wet weather Monday to pick up 4½-year-old daughter Ava from school in New York.

Hugh Jackman Set for Ballsy New Role

Hugh Jackman is to take on a risque new role in the latest offering from Peter Farrelly - he will play a man whose testicles are attached to his chin.

The X-Men hunk will take on the role for laughs in just one scene of the as-yet-untitled upcoming film from the writer/director, who is one half of the moviemaking duo known as The Farrelly Brothers, with his sibling Bobby.

According to Australia's Sydney Daily Telegraph, Jackman will play the unfortunate man, who goes out on a date with a bemused Kate Winslet.

The date will make up just one of 17 segments in the new venture, which will feature an ensemble cast including Gerard Butler, Naomi Watts, Justin Long and Sam Rockwell.

Hugh Jackman's Ideal Date Night: Skinny-Dipping

Celebrating his 14th wedding anniversary on April 11th to wife Deborra-Lee Furness, People Magazine's 2008 Sexiest Man Alive Hugh Jackman says his favorite date nights consist of going to the movies – and swimming naked.

"I'm here with my wife watching a movie – that's a pretty good date," Jackman, 41, said at Tuesday's New York premiere of Date Night, starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey. "Other than that, skinny-dipping in [Sydney, Australia's] Bondi Beach at midnight!"

After more than 10 years as a married couple with two children under the age of 10, the X-Men star says the fire between him and the missus is still going strong. "The romance is always hot and alive," he said with a wink.

Paparazzi!: Thumbs Up!

He must approve! Aussie actor Hugh Jackman shows his support for the film Date Night, making an appearance Tuesday for the flick's N.Y.C. premiere.

Paparazzi!: Dessert with Daddy Hugh

Taking advantage of the warm spring temperatures, Hugh Jackman buys adorable 4-year-old daughter Ava some ice cream during a stroll in New York Thursday.

Hugh Jackman Strikes Out?

Was his family a good luck charm?

Hugh Jackman bowled three strikes in a row during a recent visit to Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge in New York. Joined by his wife Deborra-Lee Furness and kids Ava and Oscar, the Aussie was there to help celebrate the birthday of one of his children's friends.

Still, there was plenty of time to boast about his bowling accomplishments over chicken bites and plenty of high-fives.

Paparazzi!: Snow Hunk!

Ain't no stopping Hugh! Despite snowy conditions, Hugh Jackman gives the wintry weather a thumbs-up while out in New York on Friday.

Hugh Jackman Had Trouble with Singing in Chinese for New Movie

Hugh Jackman plays a nightclub owner in an upcoming film set in rural China, but it sounds like the Australian actor had some trouble with the language. Hugh says he had to sing for the movie, and even though he took the time to learn the song syllable-by-syllable, Chinese-born producer Wendi Murdoch wasn't very impressed.

"I sang it and the very first couple of syllables she was like, 'great,' and then gradually she said like, 'what?'" he told the Associated Press of his part in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. "But I think I got at least one take."

Hugh successfully masked his native accent as he took on the role of Wolverine in the popular X-Men movies, but it would seem that speaking an entirely different language threw him off his game.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, based on the book of the same name, tells the story of how a close childhood friendship affects the lives of two very different girls in 1800s rural China.