Hugh Jackman sees himself as a ''skinny, long-legged'' person.

The 44-year-old actor may show off an impressive physique in 'The Wolverine' but he admits that isn't his natural shape and he is happy that wife Deborra-lee Furness doesn't care what he looks like.

He told Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine: ''I still see myself as this skinny long-legged person. That body I have is for 'The Wolverine.' I did work on it but it's not my natural body, and I get a hard time for it.

''Deb tells me 'Your job as my husband is to be fat and schlubby', so no matter what's going on with me, I look great.''

The couple - who have children Oscar, 13, and Ava, eight, together - have been married for 17 years and Hugh thinks the secret to their long relationship is ''choosing the right person'' and compromising.

Hugh added: ''I'd say 80 per cent of marriage is choosing the right person and with Deb I just knew. We were really close friends before we got together. But in any marriage there must be sacrifices. No marriage survives if both people are selfish. Obviously there has to be a great deal of attraction and love. I ring Deb about 10 times a day.''