2024 Logie Awards: Rebecca Gibney reflects on being Hugh Jackman’s first onscreen kiss as she’s inducted into hall of fame with tear-jerking Logies speech

Bursting star Rebecca Gibney became the fourth woman in history to be inducted into the TV Week Hall of Fame on Sunday at the 2024 Logie Awards at The Star in Sydney.

And during a montage of highlights from her incredible, decades-long television career, the 59-year-old New Zealand actress revealed that she was Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman’s first-ever on-screen kiss.

The Flying Doctors star, who made her breakthrough on Australian television in 1985 with her role in Zoo Family, caught the 55-year-old actor’s lips when they starred together in Halifax FP, a series that premiered in 1994.

“It was kind of awkward and weird, and he didn’t want to kiss me properly and he was like, ‘Well, it feels a little weird.’ Anyway, it worked in a way,” Rebecca said of the historic moment during an interview in her montage clip.

Despite the disappointing review of Hugh’s first on-screen kiss, the 55-year-old Wolverine star took it all with good humor as he subsequently paid a heartwarming tribute to his former co-star.

“Congratulations on your initiation. This is probably long overdue for me,” he said in the video as Rebecca watched from the audience with tears in her eyes.

When Rebecca was finally called to the stage by her son Zachary to accept her award, the star of The Dressmaker could barely contain herself from bursting into tears during her emotional speech.

“I’m so overwhelmed. I’m so sorry. My son, oh my god, I was okay until you came out. Thank you so much,” she said, her voice shaking.

“If someone had told me as a 16-year-old who suffers from crippling anxiety and severe body dysmorphia that I would one day be standing on this stage with this award, they wouldn’t have believed it,” she continued.

‘Thanks to the Australian public. Many have grown up with me and supported me from the beginning, and like me they think 1984 was only 20 years ago.’

Rebecca then thanked all the actors she has worked with over the years, as well as the cast members, agents and friends.

But the TV star broke down in tears as she thanked her husband Richard Bell and their 20-year-old son Zachary.

During a montage of highlights from her incredible, decades-long television career, the New Zealand actress revealed that she was the first-ever on-screen kisser with Hollywood hunk Hugh Jackman (pictured)

The Flying Doctors star, who broke onto Australian television in 1985 with her role in Zoo Family, locked lips with the heartthrob actor, 55, (pictured) when they starred together in Halifax FP, a show that debuted in 1994

“To my family: Okay, I’m not going to survive this,” she began through tears.

‘The man I met on the set of Halifax was the production designer at the time, Richard Bell.

‘Thank you for always asking the question when a job comes along, “Does it make you happy? Does it bring you joy? Well, you should do it,” and for sacrificing your own work so many times so that I could do that.

‘You have been my rock and my love for almost a quarter century and I am so grateful for that.

“To my son Zac who continues to bring me the best kind of joy. I am so proud of you. I am so proud of the kind, gentle, ridiculously talented individual that you are. Thank you for teaching me how to be a great mother. I love you more than I can describe.”

Rebecca concluded her heartfelt speech with, “I am very proud to be one of four women inducted into the Hall of Fame, but I know there will be many more to come.”

When Rebecca was finally called to the stage by her son Zachary to accept her award, the star of The Dressmaker could barely contain herself from bursting into tears as she read out her emotional speech

The touching moment quickly set X, formerly known as Twitter, ablaze.

“A very well deserved honor to Rebecca Gibney, you are a legend,” one viewer wrote.

“Rebecca Gibney is a national treasure and she must be protected at all costs,” someone else added.

“So very deserved. We all love you Rebecca!” commented another.

“Okay Rebecca Gibney brought tears to my eyes,” wrote a fourth.

“How can you not love Rebecca Gibney? Protect her at all costs,” wrote another.

Someone else said, “Wow. That touched me. Beautiful words.”

“I’m so overwhelmed. I’m so sorry. My son, oh my god, I was okay until you came out. Thank you so much,” she said, her voice shaking. Pictured with her son Zachary Bell

Elsewhere, other viewers appeared captivated by Rebecca’s son Zachary, who was moved to tears as he presented his mother with the award, and then looked on proudly as she delivered her moving speech.

“What a beautiful speech from Rebecca’s son, he is so proud,” one fan wrote.

“Oh, Rebecca’s son is so sweet,” another added.

A third said: ‘Rebecca Gibney’s son is adorable and very articulate!’, while another wrote: ‘Well isn’t Rebecca Gibney’s son amazing?’

“Well, Rebecca’s son was made for this,” remarked yet another.

The touching moment quickly set X, formerly known as Twitter, ablaze

Elsewhere, other viewers appeared captivated by Rebecca’s son Zachary, who teared up as he presented his mother with the award, then looked on proudly as she delivered her moving speech.

“What a beautiful speech from Rebecca’s son, he is so proud,” one fan wrote

After accepting her award, Rebecca spoke about the hardships she endured as a child and how she has overcome them now.

When asked how she was able to express her sadness and grief during emotional scenes, Rebecca said, “I used to think of something really sad, because I had a pretty traumatic upbringing.

‘So I based my inspiration on things I experienced as a child and things I saw growing up.

‘As I got older and learned how to be an actor… I started to go, ‘Okay, maybe it would work better if I put myself in the scene and stop thinking about something that happened when I was 15.’

Rebecca is the fourth woman in history to be inducted into the TV Week Hall of Fame and is best known for her roles in Halifax FP, Packed to the Rafters, The Flying Doctors, Stingers and The Dressmaker.