LOS ANGELES — Hugh Jackman has accomplished much in his life, but his proudest memory is adopting his two multiracial children with his wife of 13 years, actress Deborra-Lee Furness.
"Mixed-race babies have such a hard time being adopted that Deb and I checked off that box specifically when we were filling out our forms," the 40-year-old "X-Men" star tells Parade magazine of the couple's two children, Oscar, 8, and Ava, 3.
While forever grateful, the actor admits the couple's adoption choice was initially met with skepticism.
"Our lawyer brought the form back to us and said, 'This is not the time to be politically correct. Are you sure this is what you want?' explains Jackman, whose "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" arrives in theaters on May 1. "We were definite about it. Adoption is about taking a baby into your home—and your heart. It's the best thing we've ever done."
Jackman offers a steadfast "no" when asked if there are any plans to expand their family, explaining that "we travel so much that we fear if we have more kids, it'll be too much."
While he's happily married, the native Australian star's sexuality has been questioned ever since he played gay songwriter Peter Allen in Broadway's "The Boy from Oz." While the role won Jackman a 2004 Tony Award, it's also been a thorn in his side ever since.
"I'd be happy to go and deny it, because I'm not," he says of the rumors. "But by denying it, I'm saying there is something shameful about it, and there isn't anything shameful.
"The questions about sexuality I find more here in America than anywhere else, because it's a big hang-up and defines what people think about themselves and others. It's not a big issue in Australia."
Both Jackman and his wife, who is eight years older, hail from Down Under. When they first met, she was the bigger star, but Jackman tells the mag there isn't any competition now that his career is soaring.
"She's the most honest person I've ever met," he says. "The worst liar. Can't do it. Everything she feels comes out. This is just the long way of saying she's not jealous of my success, no. It's not in her DNA. Every person I've ever worked with has ended up liking Deb more than they like me."
While he's quick to praise his wife, Jackman does point out she has a knack for dozing off at the most interesting of times.
"She's fallen asleep during every movie I've ever done," he says. "At one premiere, this big-time producer—he's known for growling—growled down the row to me, 'Wake your wife up!' "
Also see: Hugh Jackman Gallery
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