Hugh Jackman will host the 81st annual Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciencesconfirmed Friday.
Telecast producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon called the Australian actor "a consummateentertainer and an internationally renowned movie star."
"He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion," Mark and Condon said in a jointstatement. "Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year's movies - and to have fundoing it."
Jackman, recently named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive," won an Emmy in 2005 forhosting the 59th annual Tony Awards in 2004. He also took home a best-actor Tony that year for hisperformance in the musical "The Boy From Oz."
Perhaps best known as Wolverine in the "X-Men" movie franchise, Jackman recently starred inBaz Luhrmann's romantic adventure film "Australia" with Nicole Kidman. He was out of the countryFriday for a promotional tour for the film and wasn't immediately available for comment, hisrepresentative, Alan Nierob, said.
Jackman has never been an Oscar nominee, but was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in2001's romantic film "Kate & Leopold." His other movie credits include 2006's "The Prestige"and 2004's "Van Helsing." Jackman also served as a past presenter on the Oscar show.
The 40-year-old actor and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, have their own Oscar - their8-year-old son Oscar Maximillian. The couple also have a 3-year-old daughter Ava.
With new producers, a new set director and even a new music director, the Academy has beenhinting at an all-new look and feel for this year's Oscars telecast on Feb. 22.
Jackman's selection is a departure from the Academy's standard of big-name comedians. JonStewart hosted the ceremony in 2008 and 2006; Ellen DeGeneres was the 2007 host. Chris Rock, SteveMartin, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg have also hosted the show in recent years.
