Here's What Hugh Jackman Had To Say About Using Steroids To Prep For Film Roles Like "Wolverine"

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Hugh Jackman loves his job — but not enough to ever put his health at risk.

A close-up of Hugh
Arturo Holmes / Getty Images

Looking back at the prep that went into past roles, Hugh says he always chose to do things naturally and never turned to steroids.

A close-up of Hugh
Arturo Holmes / Getty Images

Even for his role as Wolverine, where he constantly had to pack on pounds of muscle, Hugh chose to do things the "old school" way.

Wolverine poses in the forest flexing his large arm muscles
©20thCentFox / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I love my job. And I love Wolverine. I got to be careful what I say here, but I had been told anecdotally what the side effects are of that," Hugh shared on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?

  Sean Zanni / Sean Zanni / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Sean Zanni / Sean Zanni / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

He continued, "I was like, 'I don’t love it that much.' So, no, I just did it the old-school way."

  Bryan Bedder / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Bryan Bedder / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Hugh also joked about his diet while getting ready to play Wolverine on the big screen, admitting that he ate a whole lot of chicken.

Wolverine is shirtless and extends his arms to show his claws
©20thCentFox / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I tell you, I’ve eaten more chickens — I’m so sorry to all the vegans and vegetarians and to the chickens of the world," he said. "Literally, the karma is not good for me. If the deity has anything related to chickens, I’m in trouble."

  Andreas Solaro / AFP via Getty Images
Andreas Solaro / AFP via Getty Images

And while Hugh was able to bulk up to play the part, there was actually one physical trait that almost cost him the role.

Hugh smiling in a "Laughing Man" top
Lisa Lake / Getty Images for Philly Fights Cancer

Hugh explained that during the audition process, producer Tom DeSanto expressed concern that Hugh was too tall for the role, which was expected to be played by someone about 5 feet 5.

  Nina Westervelt / Variety via Getty Images
Nina Westervelt / Variety via Getty Images

"We were talking, and he said, 'You know, it's just one problem. I hope the fans are not going to have a problem, because the character is meant to be 5 feet 5,'" Hugh shared. "And I said, 'Tom. Really, it's going to be absolutely fine. Don't worry about it, thank you.'"

  Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Montblanc
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Montblanc

Hugh ended up landing the part — and says he spent the majority of the first film crouching down while his castmates stood on boxes!

Wolverine stands in the middle of a group of his costars
©20thCentFox / Courtesy Everett Collection

You can hear all that Hugh had to say below: