Hugh Jackman on Why He Prefers the Stage

On Saturday, October 2, the Sundance Channel's acclaimed documentary series, Iconoclasts premieres at 9pm et/pt. The third episode of the six-part series (premiering Saturday, Oct 16th at 9pm et/pt), features Tony Award®-winning actor Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Australia, The Boy from Oz) and world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten as the neighbors and friends talk about their professions and passions while Jackman prepares for an upcoming role and they cook a dinner together for charity at Vongerichten's new restaurant.

Highlights from the segment include:

Hugh Jackman on Acting:

"There's a particular magic about Broadway that never really grows old. Once you walk on that stage you feel that energy. The orchestra's playing, time stands still...Top ten moments as an actor? All of them are on stage....The hardest thing with acting is making it look like you made it up."

Hugh Jackman on Fame:

"When I first became an actor and things started to take off for me people would say ‘what's it like, man? It's all happening for you.' And I said ‘Well, I feel like I'm being dragged down the street by two Great Danes and I'm holding on for dear life but I've barely got control...now it occasionally its like a Great Dane, but most of the time, it feels good. It feels like a balance between the dog walking and me. It feels right. I'm enjoying it and I feel comfortable, a little more relaxed."

Hugh Jackman on Jean-Georges and his food:
"Jean-Georges is someone who will be remembered for a long time. That's why I question whether I should be on [Iconoclasts]... Two things I love in my life - hanging out with friends and eating. So when one of your friends is Jean-Georges, one of the best chefs in the world, well that's like, pretty sure it's gonna be a good day."

"You just have to say Jean-Georges and you can almost taste the food in your mouth. It's different than anyone else. His background is from different cultures and he somehow blended those in and revolutionized cooking. Now its more every day but when he began it wasn't. There's an image you have of chefs...and I worked as a waiter and its true for a lot of them, a lot of them are bastards really. They treat people badly, with angst and aggression. He's the antithesis of all of that..."He's got the intensity and the brilliance of a lot of chefs - but he's also got the fun."

"He seems to have it in the right order. Its not just food for foods sake its food for the experience of family of friends of coming together."

Hugh Jackman on Similarities with Jean-Georges:

"I definitely see similarities in our world. Particularly with the theater world, and this one. It's about passion. Its about showing up each and every time and its about doing it fresh with care, with love and just giving fully of yourself. "

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.