Australian actor Hugh Jackman has much on his plate right now. His new movie, Pan, has just hit cinemas, and his stage play, Broadway to Oz, will soon to tour his homeland, and possibly even New Zealand.
Amidst the swashbuckling romp in Pan, looms the evil Blackbeard. Part Gaultier, part goth Xena Warrior Princess, there is more to this Blackbeard than just feathers and goatee.
When director Joe Wright shared his vision for Blackbeard, Jackman just couldn't resist.
"He showed me – it actually had my face superimposed – the wig of Marie Antoinette, the costume of Loius the 14th, with all these rings of like a rapper, and I was like, I'm in!" he says.
"When you read it as an adult, it's a cautionary tale in a way – don't lose that childhood sense of wonder."
No danger of that for this Oscar-nominated Golden Globe-, Emmy- and Tony-winning actor – undeniably one of Hollywood's most loved Peter Pans himself.
"Oh yeah, I'm a big kid. It's a big bonus as an actor to be a big kid. In the end that's all we're doing, dressing up and pretending to be someone else, telling stories, and I love it," he says.
When Jackman isn't on set he's on stage. With the next Wolverine in the works he's soon back on home turf with his appropriately titled show, Broadway to Oz.
So will Jackman make the leap across the Tasman and bring his show even more down under?
"It does sound good doesn't it? Trust me it has been in the discussions, and I'm certainly not ruling it out. It's something Paul Dainty and I have been talking about," he says.
But after this Rugby World Cup the Wallabies-supporting heathen might not be welcome on our shores.
"I actually feel like it's enough for you guys for now. No, it's time to share it round. I know once is never enough – of course it's not," he says.
Jackman and his Pan have just hit cinemas here, in time to distract the school holidays masses.
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