William (left) and Jack (right) Robinson interviewed Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman on lambing, bottle feeding lambs and his promise to visit their farm in Penrith.
Two Cumbria-based young farmers have praised a Hollywood actor for his warm, affable and welcoming personality during a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
William and Jack Robinson, of Martindale Muscovies and Waterfowl in Penrith, recently travelled to London with mum Claire to interview Hollywood star Hugh Jackman ahead of the release of his new film, The Sheep Detectives.
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Best known for his role as Marvel superhero Wolverine, Mr Jackman plays the role of a sheep farmer in the new movie The Sheep Detectives, out in cinemas on Friday (May 8), which he has described as a mix between 2019's Knives Out and 1995's Babe.
The sheep, duck, poultry and geese farmers asked the Australian actor how much he knows about farming life, and if it was harder to work with children or sheep.
Interviewing a Hollywood actor on farming
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"I love working with children. They are really good actors," he added.
"People say do not work with children, but I do not know why.
"We are big kids. That is what all actors are.
"[But it is] probably [harder to work with] sheep. But I worked with CGI [computer generated-imagery] sheep and puppeteers.
"The puppets were in front of me and humans were animating sheep through puppetry."
Lambing
Jack also asked The Greatest Showman actor if he had ever helped to lamb a sheep before.
"I have fed a little lamb with a bottle," he said.
"But I actually have not.
"I guess you guys have [in a question to William and Jack]and they are all being born right now in the spring, right?
"How many in-lambs have you [helped to] give birth to?"
Jack said it was difficult to put a number on it, but added loves lambing.
"It is really fun," he added.
"When there is just a leg sticking out and the head, it is really fun to get the other leg because when you are reaching to get the other leg, it is really warm."
William, on the other hand, is not a fan of lambing.
The Oscar nominee asks him: "You [William] look like you do not like it that much. Just messy? Yeah."
Mr Jackman reveals his favourite breed of sheep after Jack tells his that he loves Teddy Bear sheep.
"Merino [is my favourite breed of sheep]," he added.
"Maybe that is the dominant breed in Australia? But Teddy Bear sheep sounds awesome."
After revealing that his sister resides in Windermere, the Grammy award winner was asked if he will visit the boys' farm in the future to film a sequel to The Sheep Detectives.
"I would love that," he added. Could we film on your farm? There is a rule, never invite a film crew to your home. There is a lot of people and a lot of equipment.
"If they are Australians, they might never leave. I might never leave. And you would be like, 'Hugh Jackman came for a day and he is still here. And it is weird'.
"You would be 35 and I would still be there filming The Sheep Detectives 11."
After the interview, William praised Mr Jackman for being affable and funny.
"He was a nice guy and really fun. I loved it," he added.
"He is one of our favourite movie [stars]. He said he would come to the farm one day."
After presenting Mr Jackman with duck eggs produced on-farm, as well as drawings of where they live, Jack said he was 'lovely and really funny', adding that it was a special 'once in a lifetime' opportunity for the family to meet him.
Reflecting on the interview, William and Jack's mum Laura said it was a 'surreal' experience.
"Things like that [usually] do not happen to us," Ms Robinson added.
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"We live in the middle of nowhere with our sheep and ducks. The boys could not believe it and still could not believe it on the train home.
"He [Hugh] was lovely, genuine and brilliant with the kids. They were very nervous when they first went in but he put their nerves at ease.
"He had good laughs with them and had a chat with us.
"It was brilliant. He did not disappoint. It was more than we could have wished for."
Ms Robinson said she was proud of her sons and grateful to the Logan star for his time.
"William struggles at school with dyslexia and memory," she added.
"He was panicking that he would forget things but he did not and he took it in his stride and Hugh helped him out. I am really proud of them.
"The boys got a private screening [of the film] at the Sony Centre before the interview.
"It is a tearjerker in places but an amazing film."
The Sheep Detectives is in UK cinemas now.
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