Hugh Jackman - Hugh Jackman Encouraging Wife To Resume Acting Career

The X-Men hunk admits he owes his Hollywood success to his spouse of 16 years because she put her screen dreams on hold indefinitely to support her husband as he broke into the film industry.

But Jackman reveals he's been encouraging Furness, who he met and fell in love with on the set of Australian Tv series Correlli, to resume her acting aspirations as he's convinced she's one of the best in the business.

He tells U.S. talk show host Katie Couric, "I think for me, she is one of the great actors I know, she is incredible. In fact, she had a time in Hollywood and I run into people, really powerful, big people, who say, 'Congrats to you, but your wife is really one of the most talented' and every time I hear that, it reminds me of the sacrifice she's made, her selflessness, her love and what she's done for the kids... We always made family a priority but I'm acutely aware, everyday, that actually, when it comes to sacrifices, Deb has shouldered most of those.

"She will come back, she will come back to work and in fact, I was telling her right now, 'You need to get back to work because you're just too good to waste that talent. Everyone needs to see it.'"

Furness has been dabbling with film work here and there - she last voiced a character in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole in 2010.