Hugh Jackman, 52, Goes Shirtless For Freezing ‘Polar Bear Plunge’ Swim On New Year’s Day — Watch

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Hugh Jackman, 52, didn’t let cold weather and water stop him from embracing the new year with a brave tradition! The actor took part in a polar bear plunge by running into the low-temperature water at a beach and going for a swim to celebrate 2021. He shared a video of the iconic moment to Instagram on Jan. 1.

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“Hey everyone, it’s January 1, 2021,” he says at the beginning of the video before taking off his gray sweatshirt and going shirtless. His fit body was on full display as he happily entered the water and shouted to the camera from afar. “Happy New Year!” he said before running out of the water and toward the camera.

The brave act comes after Hugh made headlines for reportedly giving R.M. Williams’ 900 employees $1, 300 each for the holidays in an anonymous gift. Although it wasn’t confirmed he was the “former R.M. Williams shareholder” who “provided staff with a cash gift”, the Daily Courier claims the Australian, who sold his shares in the Australian footwear and clothing company in Oct., was the generous secret Santa.

Before Hugh was taking on the cold waters and giving away money this passed winter, he was stripping down to his boots in a new eye-catching ad for R.M. Williams. As a spokesman for the company’s boots, he put his acting skills to use when he was shown meeting with a brand executive while in the buff and only wearing the stylish footwear, in one of their commercials in Oct. It was cleverly shot so that Hugh was seated and his privates were hidden either by the chair he was in, or the back of the exec’s head in the clip.

Days before the incredible ad was released, Hugh made headlines when his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, 65, shot down rumors that he was gay. “I see these magazines. They’re so mean-spirited. So mean-spirited. I hope people don’t buy these magazines and realize it’s all made up,” she said while appearing on the Australian TV show Anh’s Brush with Fame on Sept. 29.

“He’s been gay so many years, I was gay, too” she joked before getting serious again and explaining that, “It’s just wrong. It’s like someone saying to Elton John, ‘He’s straight.’ I’m sure he’d be pissed.”