Kate Hudson i Hugh Jackman: "There's a constant struggle in Hollywood."

New YorkThe door to the room at the Bowery Hotel in New York, where our interview will take place, is only a crack open, wedged shut by the glaring omen. While we wait our turn, a cacophony of laughter and the flashes of the camera escape through the tiny hole. Los Angeles Times who has kidnapped Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman for a photo shoot. When the door finally opens, the couple, still laughing, come to meet us, genuinely curious about our arrival and eager to learn all the details.

Hudson and Jackman's paths had crossed sporadically throughout their public careers focused on film, butSong Sung Blue: Song for TwoIt has given them the opportunity to get to know each other to the point of establishing a relationship only comparable to the couple they portray. Mike and Claire are two artists trying to make a name for themselves in show business by singing Neil Diamond's most iconic songs, such as Sweet CarolineLife doesn't make it easy for them, and they only manage to get by because they have each other.

Hudson arrives with a wealth of experience in Hollywood romantic comedies, but also having fulfilled a long-held dream as the lyricist and performer of the album. Glorious with which he debuted in the world of song in 2024. For his part, Jackman comes after climbing to the top of the box office with Deadpool and WolverineA character who has marked his filmography. Our three-way conversation often becomes a dialogue between the two of them, revealing a sincere mutual admiration unusual in a world so accustomed to navel-gazing.

For those who live outside the United States, American popular culture has entered their lives through film and television. There is an entire generation of cinephiles who discovered Neil Diamond in a scene from the filmBeautiful girlsdirected by Ted Demme.

— Kate Hudson: Me too! This was my introduction to Diamond. I also remember the song very well.Pulp fictionwhat he was doingGirl, you'll be a woman soon…[the actress sings to us].

— Hugh Jackman: I joined as a minor withHot August nightBack then, it was playing in every house. I must have been about seven or eight years old, and one of my older brothers played it for me. Years later, I remember going to a karaoke bar in the neighborhood and seeing a guy doing a Neil Diamond impersonation. He drew hundreds of people every night, and he didn't charge a penny. He was quite a sensation.

In the film, they play Mike and Claire Sardina, a talented and energetic Midwestern couple who seem to be constantly eluded by success. What was their own experience like starting out in this industry?

— HJ: If I look at my career path on paper, it's certainly been much easier than Mike and Claire's. But it doesn't seem that way. You never get the feeling that it is because you never know where things are going to go.

— KH: I think being an actor puts you at everyone's mercy. You can be successful and famous, but then you have limits when it comes to getting the roles you want, working with whom you want, or having stability. It's as if the machine always runs without you. And you very rarely feel like you have absolute control. You hope to play very different characters and earn the respect of the industry, but then you find yourself in a position where you're waiting for things to happen that are beyond your control. It's a constant challenge.

— HJ: Now that I hear you speak, I realize how different our lives have been. You grew up in a house with two of the most famous actors of all time (Jackman is referring to actress Goldie Hawn and actor Kurt Russell, Hudson's mother and stepfather). I imagine the pressure must have been very high. My father was an accountant, and I didn't know anyone in that industry. When I graduated from drama school, I was 26. Since I wanted to work and didn't have a job, I started my own theater company. So I think you had an extra layer of pressure.

— KH: Yes and no. I was raised in a way that took some of that pressure off me, in the sense that you can only pursue it if you truly love it. I met some great actors and directors and realized that Hollywood is a constant struggle. Everyone was fighting to get the films they wanted to make made. I saw that this isn't a world to dedicate yourself to if you want a stable or easy life. You only do it if you want to live a tumultuous and unpredictable life. You have to love it a lot and listen to the calling, or it can end up being a disaster.

— HJ: You're absolutely right. You have to be a certain kind of person. I love getting the call telling me I have a job, and then I get excited to ask what it is, where I should go, and who I'll be working with.

— KH: Exactly! And then you step into this ring with fascinating, interesting, and diverse people who have had similar but entirely different experiences. It's a wild world we've chosen!

And have you had a difficult time in the music world too? Hudson, you've finally released an album that you'd been thinking about for a long time. And Jackman, you've become the Jean Valjean ofLes Misérablesmost famous in film.

— KH: How I would have loved to be Jean Valjean! But my path was somewhat different. I've always felt like a lyricist, first and foremost. My love for music had led me to write music. It wasn't necessarily wanting to act. I did have some opportunities, though, like the musical adaptation.Ninewhich allowed me to sing. But I always thought that if I could make a major film, it would allow me to release my music. Music was my first love. In contrast, I think that in your case, now that I know you, you discovered music through acting.

— HJ: That's right. I still consider myself first and foremost an actor. Even when I sing. I can interpret the singing character based on the script or be inspired by the music and lyrics. It's my gateway into song. In Mike's case, he admits it himself: I'm not the best in the world. But he loves music. He wants to entertain, perform in front of an audience, and connect with them. And I identify with that a lot.

How do you approach it when you have to portray real people? Is there any particular element that opened the door to your characters?

— HJ: I simply have an insatiable curiosity about the person I'm portraying, and I approach my acting in a way that engages my subconscious. Now, this sounds very profound, but I feel like I learn things from Mike, and in a way, I feel like I have things to offer Mike. I look for our fusion and a point of connection. Mike was someone who would simply get out of bed and go sing; he didn't care about the song, he just wanted to put on a show. It's something we share, and it was a way for me to get into character.

— KH: For me, there's a moment in the film, and in her life, where Claire asks herself, "What is life if we don't live every second?" Because anything can happen at any moment and change everything. That mindset is her essence, her purity. Framing it that way helped me a lot. Even now, Claire, who came to the set, lives her life with purpose, with joy. She takes Mike with her.

Do you know how Claire reacted when she saw the movie?

— I think the hardest part was watching him slip into depression. From what I was told, there was a moment when he thought he wouldn't be able to finish watching the film, but he persevered. Of course, imagine: it's his life! And we treated him with the utmost respect. They're real people who live in Wisconsin, who have been through a lot, but they lead very simple lives. They don't ask for much. Our goal was to do it right.

One of the lessons Mike and Claire teach us is that love conquers all. In the most difficult moments, in the face of failures or obstacles, they support each other. They know they have each other. What was it like creating that synergy on set and making it so palpable for the viewer?

— HJ: I have absolute trust in her. I admire her wholeheartedly. As an actress, as a mother, as a woman, as someone in the industry, as a colleague, and as a human being. She's an incredible woman. She's very curious and can show a lot of vulnerability. With her, I feel like I can be my true self. And I hope you feel the same, Kate. This kind of trust doesn't always happen. It's not entirely necessary to have it, either, but when you do, it's the greatest gift in the world, especially when you're playing two people who rescue each other. When they meet, something magical happens because they truly believe in each other. They want the best for each other. They love each other. As musicians and as people.

— KH: What happened in this film is what you dream of when you tell a love story. I was nervous meeting Hugh because all I knew was that he was the kindest, most wonderful man in the world. But I had doubts about whether we'd be able to give it our all. We were very open with each other. We've crossed paths in life in a way that reflects Mike and Claire as we portrayed them. I will know this man forever, I will love him forever, and I will always support him. The friendship we've found will sustain us forever, no matter what. We're an unlikely couple, but it's worked out perfectly.

— HJ: You said it yourself on the first day: this movie will only work if we work. And it did.

Now that I'm talking about giving it your all, the film doesn't feature flashy sequins, unflattering wigs, minimal makeup, or heartbreaking, tough scenes. Are these elements a motivator or more of a deterrent when they appear in the script?

— KH: I love them! That's why we do it! It's so exciting when you have a big day ahead! There's the part where you read it in the script and it motivates you to do it, but then the day comes when you have to swallow it. I want to go all the way. And let it scare me a little. It has to be a challenge. That's why we do what we do. To lose ourselves in our characters. With the director, Craig Brewer, we form a great triangle of trust.

— HJ: You are the least vain actress I have ever worked with.

— KH: Do you really think so?

— HJ: And this is great, because you're also very glamorous.

— KH: Yes, I like wearing pretty dresses [laughs].

— HJ: The word trust It keeps coming back to me. Because there were scenes that were very demanding, and it was about trusting that on that day, with everyone around, whatever happened, it would all work out. I felt very comfortable with you and the crew. Everyone was fully committed.

They're both used to singing live. Did I get to shine during filming?

— HJ: Actually, we started in the recording studio. What we wanted was to find the voice, the singing voice. For me, it was a challenge because first I had to lose myself to become Mike, and then lose Mike to become Neil Diamond. And this happened when we were together in the recording studio. It also allowed us to get to know each other deeply because it's an intimate space. But the idea was also to sing live on set. We do that with the first song we sing together. It's the moment when two people are falling in love because they connect through the music.

— KH: At first, it felt a little strange because I felt like I wasn't keeping time with the piano in that scene, but Craig encouraged me to let go. I felt supported. The final result is incredible. Our executive music producer did an impeccable job because he knew how to get the most out of it, and when you see the film, it's impossible to tell which parts are pre-recorded and which are live. I can't even tell myself!

To give away a minor spoiler, the film also includes physical scenes, such as Mike collapsing on stage or Claire losing a leg. What's it like filming those kinds of scenes in such a realistic setting?

— KH: I told him this today! How did you do it? You're such a physical guy. Now I'm going to speak for you.

— HJ: Go ahead! I'll just listen.

— KH: Hugh is very physical. He's so comfortable in his own skin. Watching him work is brutal because he dives headfirst. That particular fall is insane, and he filmed it without me. Did you hurt yourself?

— HJ: It usually doesn't hurt the same day, but the next day. But these are things you learn over time. I was lucky enough to have it in one of my first films.X-MenFrom working with a second unit director who told me that when he was looking for stunt performers, he always asked them if they could dance. The reason is that you can be very strong and capable of throwing a guy from one end of a room to the other, but these sequences require relaxation. It's like dance. Your body has to do a thousand things, but it all has to look very natural. And I've never forgotten that. I was very nervous during that fall, but luckily we only did two takes. And the wig didn't budge!

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