Hugh Jackman tells Jimmy Kimmel he ‘broke down in tears’ after being arrested and charged with trying to enter Canada illegally: ‘I was pathetic’
Hugh Jackman was saved from a hoax with the law by a Canadian X-Men fan after he attempted to enter the country illegally.
Hugh, 53, spoke about the terrifying ordeal on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Friday, which happened before the Australian starlet began filming the starring role in the first Wolverine movie in 2013.
When Hugh tells the border cop he’s going to play the superhero X-Men, the excited official lets him go after shouting, “It’s Wolverine, Wolverine!”
Narrow escape: Hugh Jackman (left) tells Jimmy Kimmel (right) he was saved from a scrape with the law by a Canadian X-Men fan after trying to enter the country illegally
The incident started when Hugh tried to return to Canada, where the movie was being shot, twice in the same week. He was without a visa and was subsequently arrested.
Hugh likened the experience to the 1978 film Midnight Express – about a young American who is thrown into a Turkish prison – after being arrested at the airport.
‘I was so pathetic, I fell apart,’ he said after Border Police thought he was trying to force his way into the country by pretending to be a wolverine.
Caught: Hugh, 53, spoke about the ordeal when he was detained at a Toronto airport after being caught without a visa — the incident happened before the massive Aussie began filming the title role in the first Wolverine movie in 2013
“I was sweating,” said the rich and dancing handsome man, “I had to wait in this room for an hour and a half.”
Later he was yelled at for trying to make a phone call.
“I just lost the biggest break of my life, I’m going to jail,” Hugh told Kimmel, renaming the chilling scene.
Hugh and Jimmy Kimmel: When Hugh tells the border cop he’s going to play the X-Men superhero, the excited official lets him go after yelling, ‘It’s Wolverine, oh Wolverine’
He is interviewed by Border Police who Hugh describes as “nerdy”.
After being recognized by the overzealous bouncer, he is let go—but not before being forced to sign autographs.
Laughing Hugh said: “Honestly, I went there with a police escort, this guy let me out.”
Superhero: Hugh starred in the title role in 2013’s The Wolverine, and has reprized the role in several sequels and X-Men movies.
