The Aussie actor admits he "cranks up" his favourite heavy rock tracks to give him the extra adrenalin rush he needs when he's working out to bulk up for the hirsute mutant character.

Jackman says, "I do an hour and a half a day in the gym and eat a thousand calories more a day than I would normally - and I train really hard.

"I crank up the Godsmack and Metallica. I yell and scream, which helps me get into the character and have a bitch of a workout." Bench-pressing 315 pounds (142.8 kilograms) in the gym also helped Jackman find his inner Wolverine.