Anthony Mackie Video Interview On ‘Real Steal,’ Hugh Jackman

In Real Steel, Anthony Mackie, 34, had to keep up with iron-man Aussie Hugh Jackman. “He definitely put me in a position to understand what hard work meant,” Mackie told Uinterview exclusively. “Somebody like Hugh Jackman, you don’t expect him to show up every day, prepared and focused on the task at hand and he was that guy.”

Julliard graduate and New Orleans native, Mackie has had a distinguished career both on Broadway and in Hollywood. He was first known to audiences with his 2002 performance as Papa Doc, a rival of Eminem’s Rabbit character in 8 Mile. From there he went on to appear in such films as Million Dollar Baby and The Man. But his big break came with his 2009 performance in The Hurt Locker opposite Jeremy Renner.

But Mackie appreciated the silliness of the Steel set. “I just felt like I had never done anything like this in my career before. Having the opportunity to just jump around and wear crazy clothes and scream and yell,” Mackie told Uinterview. “So, I really wanted to do it and wanted to do it with a director I could trust and Shawn [Levy] was definitely that guy.”

For more on Anthony Mackie:

EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Mackie On ‘Man On A Ledge’

REVIEW: Real Steel

Hugh Jackman Attends ‘Real Steel’ Premiere

Hugh Jackman Bikes Around London

Hugh Jackman Finds ‘Steel’ At ComicCon

Anthony Mackie: The Average Person Eats Three Spiders A Year — Google It