Why Hugh Jackman shared his troubled past with his children after his mother abandoned him as a child
Hugh Jackman has decided it’s time to tell his children about his troubled past with the mother who abandoned him.
Ahead of the premiere of his new movie The Son, the movie star, 54, told his adopted children Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17, the film’s plot reflected his own broken family growing up.
A source told Now To Love on Monday that Hugh wanted his kids to understand the struggles he had with his mother growing up before they saw the film.
Hugh Jackman, 54, has told his children about his troubled past with the mother who abandoned him. Hugh is pictured with wife Deborra-Lee and their children Oscar and Ava when they were younger
‘Hugh has seen the best and worst of the human condition, and for a long time, he wanted to shield his kids from that,’ the source said.
‘It was very important to Hugh to bring the kids into his heart about what went on when he was a child.
‘This movie has put his emotions on full show, which is good for him.’
Ahead of the premiere of his new movie The Son, the movie star told his adopted children Oscar, 22, and Ava, 17, the film’s plot reflected his own broken family growing up. Hugh is pictured as a toddler
Speaking to media ahead of the premiere of The Son, Hugh revealed it was ‘important’ for him to be transparent with his children about the environment he grew up in.
He wanted them to understand why he starred in the movie and how impactful it was for him.
‘It was very important that I talk to them about what it was about, what it meant to me, and why I was doing it,’ he said.
‘I took them with me to see it and we had a long conversation. What I find amazing is the generation of 22 to 17-year-olds are totally fine having these conversations. It’s more my generation that is a little more sheepish and shy around it.’
A source said Hugh he wanted his kids to understand the struggles he had with his mother (right) growing up before they saw the film
Hugh was just eight years old when his mother, Grace McNeil, abandoned her family in Australia and returned to the UK.
She left Australia and returned to her native England in the late ’70s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, to raise their children alone.
After the couple divorced, Hugh’s sisters, Zoe and Sonya, went to live with Grace in the UK; Hugh and his brothers, Ian and Ralph, stayed in Sydney with their father.
The Hollywood actor has previously described Grace’s sudden departure as ‘traumatic’, but it appears time heals all wounds.
He told The Sun newspaper in October 2011: ‘I am 43 now and we have definitely made our peace, which is important. I was always quite connected with my mum. I have a good relationship with her.’
Hugh was just eight years old when his mother, Grace McNeil, abandoned her family in Australia and returned to the UK. She left Australia and returned to her native England in the late ’70s, leaving her husband, Christopher Jackman, to raise their children alone
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