Australian actor Hugh Jackman still regrets turning down the lead male role in 'Chicago' because he's convinced he could have pulled off the part - with the help of some studio make-up.
- April 27, 2011
AceShowbiz - The "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" star, Hugh Jackman, was offered the role of Billy Flynn in the 2002 movie musical opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger.
However, Richard Gere was drafted in after Hugh Jackman snubbed the offer because he was convinced he was too young to play the part convincingly.
The film went on to win six Academy Awards and nine years later, Jackman still kicks himself over the decision.
He tells Britain's OK! magazine, "I turned down the movie "Chicago" because I was too young for the part, which Richard Gere played. I'd always wanted to do a movie musical and this one came along relatively early in my career but I thought I was too young as there was one line when he said, 'I've seen it all, kid,' and I was about 30 so I thought, how am I going to sell that line, it didn't make sense to me."
"A year later it went on to win all the Oscars and I remember thinking that perhaps a little bit of make-up could have worked!"
