SUBMITTED BY katystarlet

December 14, 2001 — Hugh Jackman, star of the upcoming time-travel romance Kate & Leopold, told SCI FI Wire that, unlike his 19th-century character, he was hardly schooled in the finer points of equestrian riding. Jackman said in an interview that he had a bit of trouble rescuing co-star Meg Ryan by sweeping her onto the saddle in a key scene.

"Meg hadn't seen me ride," Jackman said while promoting the film. "I told her I was just learning it. I had never ridden before. The first time I was riding in Central Park ... [the horse] turned ... psycho. The horse just picked up pace just to the point, where ... for a new rider, it was kind of nerve-racking. So, I'm leaning over looking, and I could see the horse saw the [camera] equipment and got a little bit [freaked out]. All the camera crews start to part, and then, all of a sudden, the horse realized it wasn't going to be able to get through the equipment, so [it] ... put on the brakes. I'm like, 'Whoa!' Right over the front! Landed on my butt! There's about eight photographers there. ... Paparazzi photographers, standing right above me. And more importantly, there was Meg, contemplating ... having to get on the back of the horse with me. I bet she [thought]--this is a classic actor thing, you know?--'Can you ride a horse?' 'Sure, sure I can ride a horse!'"