Hugh Jackman Reflects on His Awkward Audition for Les Misérables

A Humbling Experience for Hugh Jackman

Los Angeles: Hugh Jackman recently shared a cringe-worthy moment from his past—his audition for Les Misérables. The actor confessed that he felt so embarrassed during the audition that he nearly fled the room.

Jackman recounted how he auditioned for the role of Jean Valjean in the 2012 film, performing the song ‘Stars’ for a panel of executives. Unfortunately, his voice faltered on the last note, leaving him feeling deeply ashamed, according to reports from a media outlet.

While performing at ‘An Evening With Hugh Jackman’ at the Hollywood Bowl, he told the audience, “I started off well with the reading, but when I sang, I cracked on the final note in a way that was just disastrous. The excitement in the room vanished instantly. I was ready to bolt, utterly humiliated.”

As reported by Variety, Jackman continued, “Then one of the panelists said, ‘Whoa, hold on a second. Why did you choose that song?’ I replied, ‘It’s the only piece I had music for. I apologize.’ He then remarked, ‘Forget that song. You won’t be singing it again.’ I think he meant to suggest I should save it for a time, perhaps 30 years later, when I might perform it at the Hollywood Bowl.”

Despite the rocky audition, Jackman secured the role and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. The film itself won three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway, along with accolades for Best Sound Mixing and Best Make-up and Hairstyling.

According to reports, Jackman is set to showcase his vocal talents once more in the upcoming film Song Sung Blue, where he portrays a Neil Diamond impersonator.

In this film, he stars alongside Kate Hudson, who released her debut album Glorious last year. They play real-life couple Mike and Claire Sardina, who were known for their tribute act, Lightning and Thunder, impersonating Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline.

The movie is inspired by the 2008 documentary ‘Song Sung Blue’, which chronicled the couple's journey. Recently, Kate shared a snapshot of their on-screen duet on Instagram.