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Hugh Jackman denies ever taking steroids

The X-Men star insisted his Wolverine six pack was achieved through sheer hard work.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (Credit: Fox)
Hugh Jackman said he never used steroids to become Wolverine. (Fox)

Hugh Jackman has said he didn't use steroids to achieve his muscle-bound body to play Wolverine, but ate a lot of chicken.

The X-Men star — who has been confirmed to reprise the role in Deadpool 3 — rose to fame as the muscly mutant he played for 17 years, appearing in nine Fox franchise films as the comic book anti-hero before he was killed off in 2017 movie Logan.

Jackman, 54, was asked on HBO’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace if he had ever taken steroids to get into shape for the part.

Read more: X-Men fans divided about Hugh Jackman reprising Wolverine role for Deadpool 3

He said: “No, I love my job. And I love Wolverine. 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.’

Hugh Jackman attends the 30th annual Hamptons International Film Festival on October 09, 2022 in East Hampton, New York. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Hamptons International Film Festival )
Hugh Jackman said he achieved his Wolverine physique by eating a lot of chicken. (Getty Images for Hamptons International Film Festival )

"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.”

The Australian Broadway star also confessed his embarrassment on the first X-Men movie after he studied wolves to try and get into character.

Read more: X-Men fans divided about Hugh Jackman reprising Wolverine role for Deadpool 3

Jackman revealed: “I had never read the comic book 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.

Hugh Jackman topless as Wolverine.
Hugh Jackman played Wolverine for 17 years across nine X-Men movies. (Fox)

“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.'”

Read more: Hugh Jackman to reprise Wolverine role one more time

Ryan Reynolds last year revealed that Jackman would be making his MCU debut as Wolverine in Deadpool 3, due for release on 6 September, 2024.

Watch: Hugh Jackman's fitness regime to become Wolverine again