Hugh Jackman wanted to run out of Les Misérables audition because he felt so 'humiliated'

Hugh Jackman wanted to run out of his audition for Les Miserables because he felt so "humiliated".

The actor has revealed he read for the part of Jean Valjean in the 2012 film and then sang the track Stars for a panel of movie bosses, but his voice cracked on the final note and he was overcome with feelings of shame.

During a performance of An Evening With Hugh Jackman at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Saturday night (07.06.25), he told the audience: "I read first and I could tell it was going well.

"Then I sang and I cracked on the final note so spectacularly. Like it was the worst crack you could have ever imagined. Whatever excitement was on the panel, it just deflated immediately. I was about to run out, just humiliated."

According to Variety, Jackman went on to add: "But then the guy goes: ‘Whoa, hold on a second. Why did you sing that song?' I said, ‘It’s the only thing I had music for. I’m sorry.’

"And he said: 'Well, you can throw that away. You’ll never sing that again.' I think what he meant to say was: 'Why don’t you put that to the side for like 30 years when you might sing it at the Hollywood Bowl?’"

Jackman won the role and he went on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.