Hugh Jackman Says He Quit Dancing So People Wouldn't Think He Was Gay

Hugh Jackman quit dancing so people wouldn't think he was gay. The "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" star wanted to be a dancer when he was a child, but gave up the hobby when his older brother accused him of being homosexual.

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The 40-year-old actor said: "In another world, another life, probably growing up in another country, I might have been more of a dancer. In fact I was going down that road when I was about 12."

"I was encouraged to do that, and I remember my brother saying, 'Ah, you poof,' so I gave it up. I dropped it like a hot rock. I didn't have the guts of Billy Elliot at the time!"

These days, Jackman - who performed several tricky song and dance routines when he hosted the Academy Awards in February - is ashamed of his skills on the dance floor.

He added: "I'm always very nervous about the word dancer next to my name because anyone who's really trained in dance will go, 'This guy's fudging so badly.'"

Jackman recently insisted he refuses to deny rumors he is gay - because it suggests there is something wrong with homosexuality.

The hunky actor - who has faced speculation about his sexuality since he played Australian musician Peter Allen in musical "The Boy From Oz" in 2003 - said: "I'd be happy to go and deny being gay, because I'm not. But by denying it, I'm saying there is something shameful about it, and there isn't anything shameful."