Hugh Jackman turned down Neighbours role

Hugh Jackman turned down a role on \'Neighbours\' to go to acting school.

Before he started his career on stage and in film, the 50-year-old actor was offered the chance to star on the Channel 5 soap, but he chose to go to a world-renowned drama school instead so he could fulfil his dream of starring at the National Theatre.

Speaking to Sky Arts\' \'BAFTA: Life in Pictures\', Hugh said: "I had a job offer for \'Neighbours\'. And I was shocked. I was doing part-time classes. I got this job offer, and I auditioned for this prestigious school, WAAPA - Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. And I got the offer for the drama school the same day I got the offer for Neighbours.

"I ended up taking the drama school, mainly because in my heart of hearts, in my dreams, my goal would be one day to be at the National Theatre, to one day be at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

"For me, watching the John Barton tapes, watching those great actors, I thought that\'s the best place in the world to act."

The \'Greatest Showman\' star recently recalled his first experience treading the boards, and admitted he "fell in love" with performing from the moment he first stepped foot on stage in a production of \'Camelot\' when he was just six years old.

He recently said:"I remember when I was about five or six doing \'Camelot\' on stage at school and, from that moment I went on to the stage, it felt very natural to me.

"Halfway through the show they out a big crown on my head, which was too big and it slipped down and covered my entire face.

"I thought \'Oh no this is a disaster\' but then I heard an uproarious laugh from the audience and thought \'No, it\'s all good, it\'s fun\'. I fell in love with it then and I\'ve been that way ever since. "