Jackman: 'Wife is my leading lady'

Hugh Jackman was so smitten with actress wife Deborra-Lee Furness, he wanted to propose to her after just three months of dating.

The pair wed in 1996 and has two adopted children - and Jackman knew straight away that they were destined to be together.

He tells People magazine: "In my early 20s, I didn't have a regular girlfriend. I was single and really happy about it. And then when I was 26, I met Deb on (Australian TV show) Correlli. She was my leading lady. It was just undeniable.

"I started planning to propose to her at about three months. We are happy. Deb and my kids have been the best things that have ever happened to me, without a doubt."

And Jackman, who has been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive of 2008, admits keeping the chemistry alive with his wife of 12 years isn't hard - because she loves it when the actor comes home dressed in-character.

He adds: "It's easy with my wife. She loves the idea of me coming home in costume because it makes her feel like she's having an affair in a good way.

"When we met, I was cast as a prisoner with tattoos and she'd say, 'Don't take your tattoos off tonight!' and I'd be like, 'All right!' But what works best with her is the stockbroker look. She also says, 'Do your sexy dance for me', (an '80s-like, hip-swiveling number) and that works for me."