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\u201cI\u2019ve been asked [countless times] to give a speech like this over the years, and I have always said no, because the money just was never really good enough,\u201d the actor joked.<\/p>\n
Jackman reportedly first visited Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana last year with his Broadway costar turned romantic partner, Sutton Foster\u2014a longtime faculty member of the school\u2019s theater department. Jackman himself studied communications and journalism at the University of Technology Sydney, and later trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could cherrypick some stories that illustrate that with strong goal setting, hard work and just a touch of luck, you too will reach the top,\u201d Jackman said during the speech. \u201cBut I\u2019m here to tell you that life just doesn\u2019t work out like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Through college, Jackman said he did the bare minimum to get by: In his last semester of college, he picked up a theater appreciation elective class\u2014which he didn\u2019t show up for until the fourth week of the semester. During the class, he ended up being cast as the lead in a play, and he fell in love with the craft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During his studies, Jackman said he picked up a range of gigs, from plays to musicals, even trying his hand at modeling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was told very bluntly by the head of the agency that the camera did not love me, that I was not photogenic, and to move on to other things,\u201d he said. \u201cBy the way, that comment stuck with me long into my film career. So, just be careful what you let in. It made me feel like I didn\u2019t belong for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n