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Seeking a deeper meaning in life, Jackman began to immerse himself 17 years ago in study at the School of Practical Philosophy, an international organization that provides courses and activities based on both Eastern and Western philosophical principles. He began meditating twice a day. Jackman says the school is about "taking duality and finding the underlying unity of things. Yin and yang, sacred and profane. And, yes, animal and human." That dynamic of duality in himself, and his graceful way of unifying it, is at the core of his appeal.

Jackman was raised by his father, who is a devout born-again Christian. His mother deserted the family when he was 8 and moved back to her native England. Hoping his son would also have a born-again experience, his father took Hugh to Billy Graham crusades every time the famed evangelist came to Australia.

"He takes his religion very seriously and would prefer I go to church," Jackman says of his father. "We've had discussions about our separate beliefs. I just find the evangelical church too, well, restrictive. But the School of Practical Philosophy is nonconfrontational. We believe there are many forms of Scripture. What is true is true and will never change, whether it's in the Bible or in Shakespeare. It's about oneness. Its basic philosophy is that if the Buddha and Krishna and Jesus were all at a dinner table together, they wouldn't be arguing. There is an essential truth. And we are limitless."

Jackman credits his 13-year marriage to Australian actress Deborra-Lee Furness as contributing to his wholeness as a person. They have two multiracial children — Oscar, now 8, and Ava, soon to be 4.

"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," Jackman says. "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?' 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."

Do they plan to adopt more children? Jackman is the youngest of five himself. "No!" he says, then pauses. "Wow. That's the first time I've ever said that so emphatically and on-the-record. For Deb and me, our family is the most important thing to us, but we travel so much that we fear if we have more kids, it'll be too much."

Despite his obviously close relationship with his wife, whispers have persisted since he played Peter Allen that Jackman himself might be gay. "I'd be happy to go and deny it, because I'm not," he says. "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."

Furness was the far bigger star in Australia when she met Jackman in 1995 on her hit television series, "Correlli." But he has now surpassed her. How do they deal with this reversal?

"The thing I find hard is that a lot of people won't even see her, and they'll obviously be talking to her to get to me," he says. "I've seen Deb literally be knocked out of the way. She just knocks 'em back."

Jackman's eyes brighten when he discusses his wife, who is eight years older than he.

"She's a morning person," he says. "Deb pops up, and it's, 'Come on, baby. Let's go!' Yet at night she falls asleep instantly, sometimes in mid-conversation. She's fallen asleep during every movie I've ever done. At one premiere, this big-time producer -- he's known for growling -- growled down the row to me, 'Wake your wife up!' She's the most honest person I've ever met. 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. I'm a little behind in the wit department, and she's always, 'Come on, Hugh, keep up! Keep up!' She looks a lot like Kim Novak, but she's from the Ethel Merman school with her humor."

Since Jackman had decided to evoke old-time stars to describe his wife, I come up with a few myself to describe him. "You're like a cross between Gary Cooper and Gene Kelly," I tell him. "With just a soupçon of Rosalind Russell."

Jackman throws his head back and roars, not with the animalistic rage of his Wolverine character but with an ironic laugh, that most human of sounds.

"Promise to put that in the story," he says. "Deb'll love that."

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