Hugh Jackman to host 2009 Oscars - Movies

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LOS ANGELES - Hugh Jackman will host the 81st annual
Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed Friday.

Telecast producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon called
the Australian actor “a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned
movie star.”

“He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion,”
Mark and Condon said in a joint statement. “Hugh is the ideal choice to host a
celebration of the year’s movies — and to have fun doing it.”

Jackman, recently named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man
Alive,” won an Emmy in 2005 for hosting the 59th annual Tony Awards in 2004. He
also took home a best-actor Tony that year for his performance in the musical
“The Boy From Oz.”

Perhaps best known as Wolverine in the “X-Men” movie
franchise, Jackman recently starred in Baz Luhrmann’s romantic adventure film
“Australia” with Nicole Kidman. He was out of the country Friday for a
promotional tour for the film and wasn’t immediately available for comment, his
representative, Alan Nierob, said.

Jackman has never been an Oscar nominee, but was
nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in 2001’s romantic film “Kate &
Leopold.” His other movie credits include 2006’s “The Prestige” and 2004’s “Van
Helsing.” Jackman also served as a past presenter on the Oscar show.

The 40-year-old actor and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness,
have their own Oscar — their 8-year-old son Oscar Maximillian. The couple also
have a 3-year-old daughter Ava.

With new producers, a new set director and even a new
music director, the Academy has been hinting at an all-new look and feel for
this year’s Oscars telecast on Feb. 22.

Jackman’s selection is a departure from the Academy’s
standard of big-name comedians. Jon Stewart hosted the ceremony in 2008 and
2006; Ellen DeGeneres was the 2007 host. Chris Rock, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal
and Whoopi Goldberg have also hosted the show in recent years.