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Why Hugh Jackman shared his troubled past with his children after his mother abandoned him as a child
Hugh Jackman has decided it’s time to tell his kids about his troubled past with the mother who abandoned him.
Ahead of the premiere of his new movie The Son, the movie star, 54, told his adopted children Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17, the film’s plot reflected his own broken family growing up.
A source told Now to love on Monday that Hugh wanted his kids to understand the struggle he was having with his growing mother before seeing the movie.
Hugh Jackman, 54, has told his children about his difficult past with the mother who abandoned him. Hugh is pictured with wife Deborra-Lee and their children Oscar and Ava when they were younger
“Hugh has seen the best and worst of the human condition and for a long time he wanted to protect his children from it,” said the source.
“It was very important for Hugh to get the kids involved in his heart about what happened when he was a kid.
“This movie has fully expressed his emotions, which is good for him.”
Ahead of the premiere of his new movie The Son, the movie star told his adopted children Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17, the film’s plot reflected his own broken family growing up. Hugh is depicted as a toddler
Speaking to the media ahead of The Son’s premiere, Hugh revealed that it was “important” for him to be transparent with his children about the environment he grew up in.
He wanted them to understand why he was in the movie and how much of an impact it had on him.
“It was very important that I talked to them about what it was about, what it meant to me and why I was doing it,” he said.
“I took them to see it and we had a long chat. What I think is great is that the 22 to 17 year old generation is totally okay with having these conversations. It’s more my generation that is a little more sheepish and shy about it.’
A source said Hugh wanted his kids to understand the struggle he had with his mother (right) growing up before seeing the film
Hugh was only eight years old when his mother, Grace McNeil, left her family in Australia and returned to the UK.
She left Australia and returned to her native England in the late 1970s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, alone to raise their children.
After the couple divorced, Hugh’s sisters, Zoe and Sonya, went to live with Grace in the UK; Hugh and his brothers, Ian and Ralph, stayed with their father in Sydney.
The Hollywood actor previously described Grace’s sudden departure as “traumatic,” but it seems time heals all wounds.
He told The Sun newspaper in October 2011, “I’m 43 now and we’ve definitely made our peace, which is important. I was always very close to my mother. I have a good relationship with her.’
Hugh was only eight years old when his mother, Grace McNeil, left her family in Australia and returned to the UK. She left Australia and returned to her native England in the late 1970s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, alone to raise their children.