Hugh Jackman Denies Using Steroids to Play Wolverine

Hugh Jackman infamously changed his physique in an incredibly impressive way when he got the role of Wolverine in the X-Men films. While many may think he did so unnaturally, the actor says he never once took steroids to get his body right for the role.

During a recent interview on the HBO series Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace (via Variety), Jackman was asked whether or not he’s ever been on “the juice,” or taken steroids to improve his body for the role. According to Jackman, he didn’t, specifically because he was told about the side effects of steroids and decided that he didn’t love playing Wolverine that much.

“No, I love my job. And I love Wolverine,” Jackman said. “I got to be careful what I say here, but I had been told anecdotally what the side effects are of that. And I was like, ‘I don’t love it that much.’ So no, I just did it the old-school way. And I tell you, I’ve eaten more chickens — I’m so sorry to all the vegans and vegetarians and to the chickens of the world. Literally, the karma is not good for me. If the deity has anything related to chickens, I’m in trouble.”

Jackman also briefly spoke about how he prepared for the role and recounted an embarrassing story of how he thought that Wolverine was actually part wolf, thanks to never having read the comics.

“I had never read the comic book,” said Jackman. “I got the part. I didn’t really know anything about…I didn’t, in Australia we don’t have wolverines. I didn’t know that was a real animal. I’d never heard of a wolverine. I thought it was a made-up animal. You know, like, he’s got man hands of steel, made up. And so I was passing as I was doing rehearsal at the Imax, they had this documentary about wolves. And I was like, perfect, because obviously I’m a wolf, part wolf.

“So I went [to set] with all these wolf moves and I was doing these moves, and the director said, ‘What are you doing?’ And I said, ‘Well, I was just thinking wolves are always looking like this because they’re actually smelling, they’ve got their nose to the ground. That’s why they’re looking like this all the time.’ And he goes, ‘What do you mean a wolf?’ And I said, ‘Well, you know, Wolverine — I’m part wolf so…’ and he goes, ‘No, you’re a wolverine.’”