Mumbai: Hugh Jackman will host the 81st Academy Awards telecast, producer Laurence Mark and executive producer Bill Condon announced. This will be Jackman’s first time center stage at the Oscar show, although he has previously been a presenter.

"Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star. He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion. Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year’s movies – and to have fun doing it," said Mark and Condon in a joint statement.

Jackman stars in the current release Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann. He will next be seen in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, having portrayed the title character in the previous three smash-hit X-Men movies. His other film credits include The Prestige, Flushed Away, The Fountain, Happy Feet, Van Helsing, Kate & Leopold and Swordfish.

A native of Australia, Jackman won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Boy from Oz. He has served as host of the Tony Awards ceremony and won a 2005 Emmy for that assignment.