TELEVISION

Making the Grade (2004)
Dir: Corey Smith
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Vitale, Chelsea Morgan, Carla Vitale

Rather an unexpected re-entry into the small-screen realm, but great fun: Hugh stars in this 3+ minute short directed by high school student Corey Smith, produced for a segment of MTV's TRL and shot at Nutley High in Nutley, N.J. Two teenage girls pine for their math teacher in somewhat different ways...but one of them has a cunning plan...

Watch Making the Grade (Quicktime required)

Production Info:
Corey Smith's website

Halifax f.p.: Afraid of the Dark (1997)
Dir: Steve Jodrell
Cast: Rebecca Gibney, Shane Feeney-Connor, Hugh Jackman, Susan Lyons, Catherine Wilkin, Barry Langrishe, Myles Collins

In 1997, Hugh joined an impressive list of future Aussie stars - including Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, Frances O'Connor and Radha Mitchell - who have guest-starred on this Cracker-esque crime drama on Australia's Channel Nine. In Afraid of the Dark, a fragile Jane Halifax undergoes therapy to resolve issues from her relationship with her father while assisting in the investigation of a brutal multiple murder at an out-of-the-way service station. During the course of her work, she strikes up an unusual friendship with the crime's sole witness and has a brief romantic entanglement with one of the detectives.
(NOTE: Later released on DVD in the US and Canada as Profile of a Serial Killer)

Production Info:
Series 3 Ep. Guide @ Australian Television.net
Internet Movie Database

Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (Season 4) (1996)
Dir: Pino Amenta, Julian McSwiney, Chris Langman
Cast: Andrew Clarke, Guy Pearce, Brett Climo, Cheryl Munks, Kristie Raymond, Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, Hugh Jackman, Josephine Byrnes

Snowy River (seen in the US on the old Family Channel) told the continuing story of cattle rancher and outdoorsman Matt McGregor, a widower raising his family alone in Western Australia during the late 1800's. In its fourth season, which never aired in America, Hugh joined the cast for a five-episode stint as Duncan Jones, a sailor and childhood friend of Matt's son Rob who returns home for an extended visit while his ship is in dry-dock. During his stay, he revisits a disturbing secret from his past and manages to make heartsick both teenage daughter Danni and Rob's sweetheart, Montana. Episodes that feature Hugh are: "Comeback"; "The Grand Opening"; "Black Sheep"; "Prince of Hearts"; and "The Grand Duke".

Production Info:
Series 4 Ep. Guide @ Australian Television.net
Internet Movie Database

Blue Heelers: "Just Desserts" (1995)
Dir: Julian McSwiney
Cast: John Wood, Ian Wilmoth, Martin Sacks, Julie Nihill, Hugh Jackman

January 1994 marked the debut of an Aussie police drama exploring characters living in the fictional bush town, Mount Thomas. Each installment explored the highs and lows in the personal and professional lives of a group of officers. In an October 1995 episode entitled "Just Desserts," a handsome lawyer was tossed into the mix. Although not a terribly meaty part, Hugh, as usual, managed to be magnetic, infusing subtext and charm into what, in less capable hands, would be a forgettable role.

Production Info:
Series 2 Ep. Guide @ Australian Television.net
Internet Movie Database

Correlli (1995)
Dir: Robert Klenner, Julian McSwiney, Mandy Smith, Tony Tilse, Kate Woods
Cast: Deborra-lee Furness, Hugh Jackman, Sue Jones, Neil Melville, John Brumpton
Straight out of drama school at WAAPA, Hugh landed the lead role of angry felon Kevin Jones in ABC Television's gritty prison drama Correlli. Over the course of ten episodes, Kevin was a charismatic powder keg, initially maintaining an elaborate scam -- pretending to suffer brain damage due to a head injury -- in order to keep himself from being returned to a maximum security lockup. After his rouse is discovered, Kevin forms a tenuous bond with his young cellmate as well as a healthy fondness -- a dangerously mutual one -- for psychologist Louisa Correlli. Correlli proved a lightning rod for Hugh in more ways than one; besides meeting future wife Deborra-lee, he garnered instant acclaim for his remarkably intense performance.

Production Info:
Episode Guide @ Australian Television.net
Internet Movie Database