Is Hugh Jackman in The Residence? Why Do We Never See His Face?

Netflix’s ‘The Residence’ explores the murder of a White House Chief Usher named A.B. Wynter through the eyes of world-renowned detective Cordelia Cupp. As Cordelia probes into the details of the case, members of the White House grow impatient with an imposed lockdown over the building’s premise. Matters are further complicated by the fact that a delegation of Australian dignitaries is attending a special state dinner event meant to strengthen US-Aussie ties. However, with news of the murder reaching everyone’s ear, a fallout of public and social relations takes place, which is made all the more amusing by the presence of a real-life celebrity – Hugh Jackman – amidst the gathered crowd. While he appears recurringly throughout the episodes, there are no direct shots of Jackman’s face, leaving questions about his actual presence in the show up for debate.

Hugh Jackman Only Appears in Name in the Residence

Despite being alluded to throughout the show, Hugh Jackman does not appear in person in ‘The Residence.’ According to creator Paul William Davies, the actor’s role was intended to be more substantial as the real Jackman was the first choice for the show’s creative team. They even got in touch with him for the role. However, due to scheduling conflicts, Jackman had to back away from the project, which he expressed via a “lovely note” back. “I feel confident that he would have done it if he could have done it, and hopefully he enjoys the whole the gag of it,’ Davies explained in an interview with Deadline. The Jackman references are some of the most amusing moments in the series, doubling down on the caricature image of an out-of-touch celebrity who is not concerned about a murder in the White House.

While ‘The Residence’ may be a murder thriller in essence, the show also operates as a satire on various levels. This can often be seen in how Hugh Jackman’s likeness is used within the project. The actor is one of the most popular talents in the world, having portrayed some iconic characters over the years. As such, his presence in the series is deliberately added to lend weight to the state dinner function that kickstarts the Netflix show into gear. His Australian heritage and superstar status are leveraged as a comedic and world-building element within the show. However, he is not the only Australian celebrity who makes a notable impression. We also witness prominent singer-songwriter and actress Kylie Minogue portraying herself during the state dinner.

In a sense, the inclusion of two real-life popular icons brings a level of self-awareness to the drama unfolding on screen and the goofiness of some scenes. Rather than limiting the possibilities of the series by removing Jackman’s presence completely, the creative team found a way to incorporate his likeness into the project while maintaining the central themes. Ultimately, the focus of the narrative remains on a fatal murder with humungous consequences for the incumbent administration of President Morgan. However, by adding real-life figures like Jackman and Minogue into the drama, or at least referencing them in the former’s case, the show manages to expand its horizons and touch upon broader aspects of society in general and the fetishization of celebrity culture.