Hugh Jackman is worried about bleeding on stage during his upcoming Broadway play.

The Australian actor is getting ready to portray a man who brings his girlfriend to a remote rural cabin near a river to introduce her to night fishing in 'The River' later this month, and will have to clean, prepare and sauté a real trout on stage during every performance.

The 46-year-old star - who is married to Deborra-lee Furness - said: ''I love the idea of doing all that, in silence and alone, except I'm on stage in front of 750 people.''

He added: ''I love the power of theatre to create a moment like that - though if I cut myself and start bleeding all over the place it might not be so silent.''

The 'Les Miserables' star is excited to be returning to the stage in Jez Butterworth's production, as even though he loves films, he relishes the chance to challenge himself.

Asked about performing live on stage, he said: ''It's a love that's never waned since I was five, doing 'Camelot' at my primary school.''

He added to the new US issue of Vogue magazine: ''This play has been described as a piece of chamber music. I've done musicals and a one-man show and massive, bombastic movies, so it's thrilling to be in something so intimate and filled with so many goose-bump moments.''