Hugh Jackman Is Hands-on Dad at 54 after He Was 'Blessed' with 2 Kids Whom He Always Wanted to Adopt

• Australian actor Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness always knew they would adopt but wanted to have their biological children first.

• Their two babies are all grown and are "professional travelers."

• "I want to lead my kids by example when it comes to charity," Jackman says about raising his kids to have a responsibility towards others that are less privileged.

"The Wolverine" actor Hugh Jackman, 54, always considered himself an indecisive person. However, when he met fellow Australian actor Deborra-Lee Furness, he knew right away that she was the one.

The pair met in 1995 on the set of the TV show "Corelli" in Australia. At the time, Furness says she was not looking for anything serious. She had just made her New Year's resolution and sworn off dating actors or anyone under 30.

However, Jackman knew she was the one for him from the onset. The two eventually started dating, but they had trouble immediately. Jackman says Furness tried breaking up with him early in the relationship, but he managed to talk her out of it.

They dated for 11 months before tying the knot in April 1996. Jackman and his wife always knew they wanted to be parents, and even though they planned on having biological children first, they were both very convicted about one day adopting.

Because of Furness' age — she was 40 when they married and 13 years older than Jackman, they began trying for babies soon after settling into marital bliss. Sadly, it was not happening as soon as they had hoped.

The path to parenthood became an apparent uphill battle after fighting infertility and undergoing IVF treatments, only to have the resulting pregnancies end up in miscarriages. Jackman told the Katie Couric Media, as People reports:

"It is a difficult time. The miscarriage thing — apparently, it happens to one in three pregnancies — but it's very, very rarely talked about."

The couple had years of anxiety before they decided they might as well get the adoption wheel rolling. It had always been in the plans, so why not get started, seeing as having kids naturally had proven an exercise in futility?

While they were ready to become parents and had waited a long time to hold the title, Jackman opened up about the changes that came with having kids, adding:

"You learn about your own relationship to your parents and then how you want to parent, and also, I've found, your marriage goes to a whole other level."

Adopting Washed Away the Couple's Anxiety and Frustrations

The Australian couple struggled for years before they decided it was time to adopt their babies. Jackman explained that while they'd always known they would become adoptive parents one day, they did not know where or when the process would begin.

However, after trying to conceive biologically failed, it seemed as ripe a moment as any, so they set off to adopt their first baby. The pair first adopted their son Oscar Maximillian in an open adoption — they already knew and remained in contact with the child's family.

Born in 2000, Oscar brought joy and fulfillment to Jackman and Furness, washing away all their anxiety and frustrations. The "X-Men" actor recalls:

"The moment Oscar was born, all the heartache melted away. You can't prepare for that moment. Nothing can prepare you."

He could barely describe the avalanche of emotion that came with welcoming a baby noting how the experience had taken away all the frustrations and anger and left him feeling alive.

When they adopted Oscar, of Croatian/Bosnian ancestry, in 2000, Jackman reportedly promised the boy's birth mother, Amber Sanders, that he would keep her updated on the boy's life.

However, in 2004, Jackman came under media fire after Sanders claimed she had not received a photo of Oscar and had no way of reaching out to Jackman and Furness. She complained that she only saw pictures of her son when he was photographed with his new family in magazines.

The happy ending came when Oscar reunited with his biological siblings and aunt when he turned 18, an occasion he says was undoubtedly the best day of his life. Unfortunately, he never met his mother, as she passed away in 2005.

Furness doted on her son, a high school graduate, saying he is an artist who looks up to the famous Salvador Dalé. Jackman is also proud of his son, and the two share an unparalleled bond.

Years after welcoming their son, Jackman and the "Angel Baby" actress adopted their second baby Ava Elliot, completing their beautiful family. Like her older brother, Ava brought immeasurable joy to her adoptive parents.

Jackman shared some challenges they faced parenting Ava, noting that at 15 months, the little girl's love for the toilet bowl had seen her flush a phone, pencils, and food down the toilet.

Jackman and Furness are proud of their babies' achievements and, in a 2011 interview, referred to them as professional travelers and better at traveling than their parents.

Noting the improvements, he compared them to when they were toddlers and would cry and get fussy throughout the flight. He said of fatherhood:

"The love of your children is so powerful. It is different from love for your partner. You can't believe you have that capacity — you'd do anything for them and not even think about it."

Jackman Raises His Children to Be Responsible toward Others

Jackman and Furness strive to be hands-on parents to their babies despite their busy schedules. The actor also noted that the dynamics of his relationship with his children changed once they became teens. "It went from 'Hey guys, these are the rules, we don't do that ' to having to give them reasons why." He told People.

Jackman recognizes that he and his family live a privileged and advantaged life and teaches his children to use those advantages to help others. He says he always strives to pattern the proper behavior for Oscar and Ava and lead by example in their responsibilities towards others.

Jackman knows he is ridiculously blessed and does not need more money than he has. The "Free Guy" actor hopes to share his blessings with those who do not have much and wants Oscar and Ava to be with him every step of the way.