(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Hugh Jackman says working with boxing icon Sugar Ray Leonard was "exciting" and not at all scary.

The Australian actor is playing Charlie Kenton in the boxing drama Real Steel, which is about an alternate future where robots that look like humans battle each other.

Hugh says preparing for the role with Sugar Ray, who is now retired from boxing, was invigorating rather than daunting.

"Was he intimidating? No. Exciting? Absolutely." Hugh told Empire magazine.

"My old man was a boxer in the British army, so I thought I'd better make this look good for my dad, but Sugar Ray was fantastic."

Sugar Ray is frequently regarded as one of boxing's greatest champions. He was able to give the actor character advice, in addition to boxing tips.

"Boxing is solitary and he talked openly about that feeling, about being champ and how it's very hard to gain that in any other part of life," Hugh said. "He talked about sacrifices he made early on to go for that goal, and things I could really relate to for this character."

Movie hunk Hugh, who got his body into action hero shape for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, is no stranger to fighting on-screen battles. He is proud of his athletic prowess, which many don't expect an actor to possess.

"The great thing about being an actor is they expect you to have two left feet and two right arms," Hugh said. (C) Cover Media