Hugh Jackman reveals he’s “finally” in therapy to deal with his mother leaving him when he was eight
Australian actor Hugh Jackman has revealed he is “finally” in therapy to deal with the trauma of his mother leaving him when he was just eight years old.
The 54-year-old was seeing a therapist while filming his latest film The Son, in which he plays the father of a suicidal teenager, as sessions were offered to all cast members due to the film’s dark themes.
Hugh had a traumatic start in life when his mother Grace left him as a child to start a new life in England. His father Christopher raised him as a single father in Sydney.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman has revealed he is “finally” in therapy to deal with the trauma of his mother Grace, who left him when he was just eight years old
Christopher died in 2021 at the age of 84.
Hugh previously said he doesn’t believe in therapy as it’s not as widespread in Australia, but has now decided it’s time to face his demons.
“It helped me a lot,” he told The Sun newspaper on Tuesday. “With therapy, it either works for you or it doesn’t.”
The 54-year-old began seeing a therapist while filming his latest film The Son, in which he plays the father of a suicidal teenager, as all the cast members were offered sessions
Now based in New York City, the Broadway star believes it’s important to surround yourself with people who will listen.
“You need a friend who you can offload with anything. They need that in all kinds of ways, from all kinds of people,” he said.
“It can really help to have someone who’s really smart, who’s actually a little bit removed from your world. I found it really helpful.”
Hugh previously said he doesn’t believe in therapy as it’s not as widespread in Australia, but has now decided it’s time to face his demons
Although she left him as a child, Hugh has forgiven his mother, Grace, who still lives in the UK.
He said they “made peace” a long time ago, adding that the therapy helped him understand how his past affects his unconscious thinking.
“Most importantly, it helps me relate more to the people I love in my life, really understand and live in their shoes and be clear enough to see them,” he said.
Hugh and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness, 67, are parents to two adopted children, Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17.
He admitted raising children is difficult, especially in their teenage years, and wished he could “understand more of what’s happening or what they’re thinking or feeling.”
The Broadway star and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness (right) are parents to two adopted children, Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17