SEOUL - You learn many things when Hugh Jackman gives you a bear hug. Or perhaps in his case, a Wolverine hug.

First of all, that formidable chest on the 44-year-old is indeed every bit as rock-hard and manly as it looks in the movies - and yet incredibly snug and comforting. I know for sure, because that was exactly where my right cheek was situated during said hug as the erstwhile Sexiest Man Alive gamely posed with me for a photo.

Secondly, the multi-hyphenate actor-singer-dancer is officially the nicest guy in Hollywood. Yes, he’s much nicer than Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and Will Smith combined. It’s not an act. Jackman is simply downright gracious, open, sincere and believable. The Aussie was the perfect gentlemen, despite just getting off a long flight from New York City and immediately embarking on two day press junket in Seoul.

And finally, Jackman really is just your average bloke.

“My wife always says that the only handy thing about me is that I’m close by: I’m the world’s worst handyman,” he said. “And just the other day, I overheard my son talk to a friend who was asking about Wolverine and he said, ‘Look, he’s nothing like Wolverine. He’s not nearly as tough, and not nearly as cool!’

“And my daughter also said something quite funny. I had to go up and shoot for four days in Montreal and she told me she was both sad and happy. And I was like “Happy? Why does it make you happy?” and she said, “You’re pretty strict dad. I get away with a lot when you’re not here’.”

Just your regular loving husband and dedicated father of two adopted children, then, who just happens to be a Broadway-singing, Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe, Tony and Emmy award-winning triple-threat Hollywood superstar.

“Is Hugh Jackman for real?” I just had to ask. “I feel like I have to touch you to make sure you’re for real.”

“Well, we’re hugging for a photo right now aren’t we? You tell me,” he laughed without missing a beat.

Q: You’ve taken on the claws whopping six times. Does it get easier or harder?

A: I think physically it gets harder. Actually, it gets harder and easier. Or should I say, it’s more fun. I’m enjoying it more now than I used to. Maybe being a little older helps. I really loved this script. I loved that yes, this is a comic book movie, but it doesn’t feel like one. It really feels more like we’re focusing on the human side of Wolverine than the superhuman. It still has got all the fun, action and all the Wolverine moments you want, but it has more complexity and there is more to play with. With most of the X-men films, or even the first Wolverine film I have to say, there were so many other mutants around,that is just difficult to focus on one.

Q: This film follows one of the more popular Wolverine story lines in the comic books. Was that a conscious effort to change the focus back to the comic books?

A: This movie, I’ve been waiting 13 years to make! And I’ve always wanted to do this particular story and I was very invested in it. The conscious effort was really tell the story of this character as we knew him. And the DNA that comes from the comics. He is a slighter darker character. He’s intense, more interior and more restrained. And quite human really. He’s got all the superhuman qualities and abilities obviously, but the really defining quality is very human - the inner rage. That’s what makes him so cool. That’s what makes him so tough.

Q: With so many fan boys and their card-carrying expectations, do you ever read what goes on in the forums?

A: I don’t have to go and read because they come up to me on the street! On planes! Everywhere I go! (laughs) And I quite like that actually. Because generally, they are respectful, passionate and they really want to say something. And I’ve been a fan of things too, so I get that. Particularly when it’s out of your control and when someone else is making something that you love. It’s difficult.

Q: Aside from Wolverine, did you have any other favourite superheroes growing up?

A: Can I call Indiana Jones a superhero? (laughs) Yeah, he sort of is. When I was growing up, he was my favourite. But I also loved Superman. When the first movie came out in 1978, I was nine years old and that was “Ahh!”. Superman was it for me.

Q: So if Wolverine met Superman in a dark alley, who’d would win?

A: That’s a good question! Superman always has the ability to fly away, which is a version of running away. Which is probably what he’ll do, let’s be honest! (laughs) I would never really bet against Wolverine. I wouldn’t.

Q: Well, it’ll certainly be a fight to the finish.

A: Yeah! Certainly on a paper, Superman’s got a few more powers really. But he’s just hasn’t got enough mongrel. Yeah, mongrel!

Q: You caused quite a stir when you remarked you wouldn’t mind fighting alongside Spider-Man, Iron Man and The Avengers…

A: I don’t know whether I’d fight alongside them, maybe against them.(laughs)

Q: How can we help you make that happen?

A: Well, you have to somehow get the heads of Marvel, Fox and Sony studios together and get them to probably make one of the most expensive movies of all time. And if you can do that, that will be great. I don’t know how often those guys have ever come together. Maybe it’s easier to tackle peace in the Middle East. But it’s worth a shot. I’m optimistic.

Q: This is pretty much the most vulnerable we’ve seen Wolverine. What makes you vulnerable in real life?

A: I think being an actor, being vulnerable is important. I think every time you do something, on a film set, on a stage, hosting the Oscars, whatever is it, you’re putting yourself out there and it can go wrong. It can fail. And as you know, and you’ve seen with me, things go bad and things go wrong. Just that risk alone is a position of vulnerability. As a family man, with two kids, you feel vulnerable all the time. Every time they walk out the door… whatever they are feeling, you feel, twice as much. I think vulnerability is not necessarily a bad thing. In many ways, I kind of look for it in life. Professionally I look for it. Because I think that fear or vulnerability pushes you- to be better prepared, to work harder, to become better and stronger.

Q: Wolverine doesn’t quite die, but what are your thoughts on immortality?

A: Well, it wouldn’t be good for the environment! (laughs) We’re already struggling as it is now. I think really, the lesson, in the movie and I think obviously the same for life, is really, quality of life is really more important than how long you live. Living for a long time is hard thing. So I don’t know. If someone offered it to me, I’ll be tempted, that’s for sure. But at the end of the day, the lesson of life is being able to go out easier than we came in.

Q: What was the hardest scene to do in this movie?

A: The bullet train sequence. Actually, it was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in movies. It took us three weeks to shoot that. We had these industrial strength wind blowers in our face and the first time they were turned them on, I literally just slid off the train. Straight off! It was pretty intense.

Q: Did it ever get life-threatening?

A: Well, there was one day where it got a little messy. But at least I got sent home early that day.

Q: do you ever tell wife and your kids about these crazy scenes and stunts before doing them?

A: No, I don’t! I tell them about it when I get home after the shoot. My wife is very supportive.

Q: In the movie, Logan finds himself with a female bodyguard. Any female protectors in real life?

A: Yeah, my wife. You do not cross my wife I tell you. She will take you down. I often describe her as a lioness. Seriously, if someone says anything bad about me ... Sometimes I hear her swearing and yelling, and I’ll be like “ what’s going on?” She’s actually on the internet and she’s read something bad about me or someone’s blogged about me. And I think she’s about to rip up the computer! Be very careful, be afraid. I’m just saying, when you write your article, write whatever you like. But if you rip into me, you’re in trouble.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing about Asian culture that you found out during filming?

A: I’ve been to Japan at least 10 times and I find it as fascinating and intriguing the first time I went there. This time, I got to live and work there for a month. And we got to climb Mt. Fuji which was incredible! I’ll tell you a little funny story about that: We slept on the eighth station which was near the top and we still had four hours to walk in the morning. We’re up high in the mountain and I just got a little tatami mat to sleep on. Being a Westerner, I kept tossing and turning. I got a bag of rice as a pillow, but I couldn’t sleep at all, none of us could. And every time I’d get up to walk around, I would see all the Japanese climbers lying down, in three straight rows, comfortably. They would lay there and text. Then they would close their eyes, still holding onto their mobile phones. Six hours later, they would wake up and continued texting. Never moved a muscle. That’s like a super human ability right there. That could be another X-men character. (laughs) The ability to sleep anywhere...

Q: And text!

A: Yeah! (laughs)