Hugh Jackman just added another statue to his impressive collection – the Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Oscar-nominated star paid emotional tribute to his wife during his heartfelt acceptance speech.
The Australian actor attended the festival to promote his latest project The Front Runner. His director Jason Reitman and co-star J.K. Simmons kick-started the evening by sharing a couple of amusing stories about Jackman with the audience.
At the very start of his speech, the X-Men star thanked the organizers of the Santa Barbara Film Festival. He also gave a special nod to the victims and first responders of the California wildfires, by saying his heart goes out to all the families that have been so deeply affected by this tragic event.
Jackman spent the rest of his speech paying an emotional tribute to his wife Deborra-Lee Furness, who thought him that life is never defined by the highlight reels. He thanked her for loving him and believing in him even when he didn’t know how.
“You have pushed and encouraged me when I was scared to venture out. You have smiled me into smiling. You have sung me into singing. You have loved me into loving and like everything I do in my life, I share this with you,” said the actor in his touching speech.
