How Hugh Jackman stays Wolverine fit

(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)

For Hugh Jackman, the intense preparation—whether it’s dropping weight for Les Miserables or training with Sugar Ray Leonard for Real Steel—is part of the performance, even when the cameras aren't rolling. For example, he always wants to give himself a solid three months to prepare for any role that might have him in the raw, which is often a possibility with anything Wolverine-related.

"There's a naked shot in this one," he says. "Not front naked—it's PG-13—but full-body. So I made it very clear that I wanted to know the date I'd be shooting that stuff.”

When he heard that the day of shooting might be pushed back by a few weeks, Jackman wasn’t having it.

“I said, 'Absolutely not! I don't care, you can push anything back you want, but I'm naked on that day!'"

Try this Warrior Workout today to make your fat cells cry!

Jackman also has an industry reputation as a generous gentleman. He listens. He engages. He respects.

Give credit to his father, who emphasized good etiquette: "Everything was very proper and English that way. So a lot of that chivalry was stuff I was taught at home. But then he'd actually talk to me about stuff like respect. Really, it's about having respect for people."

Want to prove that chivalry isn’t dead? Check out these tips on how to be the perfect guy for her.

Feeling comfortable is a warning sign for Hugh Jackman. Taking a break, stepping out of the spotlight, or recharging are just never options. To push himself, he defines goals as single-minded pursuits that are limiting, while challenges can expand. Example: Can a man be in better shape for his signature role in 2013 than he was 10 years earlier? Watch The Wolverine and you see the answer.

"It wasn't until I came to a truce inside myself about the fact that my job rarely will be comfortable that I started to enjoy it more," he says. "Like Wolverine. You want to get somewhere you're not physically? It's going to be uncomfortable. The end result is good, but it's uncomfortable to change.”

Whether in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or 50+, you can still Live Great at Any Age.

To learn about Jackman’s all-new Wolverine workout, check out the June 2014 issue! In it, you'll also find tons of useful stuff—including your guide to the ultimate food for summer and the grooming products that will instantly give you a fresh look!