Before becoming one of Hollywood's most recognisable stars, Hugh Jackman was a physical education teacher at Uppingham School in the late 1980s. A resurfaced clip from the 2013 Zurich Film Festival shows the Australian actor spotting entertainment reporter Rollo Ross, one of his former pupils on the red carpet. Rather than sticking to the usual interview script, Jackman interrupted Ross's questions to ask about his fitness and progress, proving that old habits die hard.
In the now-viral footage, which has amassed over 38 million views since its original upload, Jackman pulls Ross in front of the camera to introduce him as his ex-student. Ross, blushing and laughing, tries to retreat behind the lens, but Jackman persists, quizzing him about his education.
The playful exchange quickly turns into a light-hearted callback to their school days, with Jackman joking about students who forget their kit or avoid swimming lessons pointedly reminding Ross of his own PE track record.
@chillcollinz Imagine Wolverine as your PE-teacher 😎 #fyp #foryou #hughjackman #wolverine #interview
♬ origineel geluid - Chill Collinz
I love this sm you can tell he loves his student because he keeps teasing him https://t.co/FbE4wts131
— :0 (@stanairpods) August 13, 2025
You can just see the pride on his face whenever he sees his old student that’s how you know he’s a genuinely kind person
— BRANNY (@BraxtonBranham6) August 13, 2025
Jackman was in Zurich to receive the prestigious Golden Icon Award for his contribution to film and stage. Yet this unscripted reunion stole the spotlight, offering fans a glimpse of the man behind the roles — still every bit the encouraging, cheeky teacher he once was.
The moment has resurfaced ahead of his latest appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, showing that whether on stage, screen or a green carpet, Hugh Jackman hasn't forgotten how to connect on a personal level.
