His X-Men character Wolverine is famous for the long, metal blades that extend from his knuckles.

But Hugh Jackman has revealed that the cumbersome outfit has caused more than a few problems, including one particularly embarrassing, intimate injury.

The 45-year-old actor admitted that he was wearing the Wolverine blades and not much else when he tried to hide himself from female workers on set, leaving himself with a wound to the top of his thigh.

He said: ‘There was a very intense first scene and I insisted on a closed set. I ran round the corner and all the female members of the crew were gathered there.

‘I tried to cover myself and cut my inner thigh – it was just the inner thigh thankfully. The metal claws had to go – you can’t have bits and pieces flying off.’

Jackman made the admission as he appeared as a guest on tomorrow night’s edition of BBC1’s The Graham Norton Show.

The Australian star, who can soon be seen reprising his role in X-Men: Days Of Futures Past, also told how he has to spend six months training to get into shape for his role as the mutant superhero.

Due to the frequency of his appearances, he had spent a total of 18 months keeping his body in check for his most recent stint as Wolverine.

His co-star Michael Fassbender – also a guest on the chat show – praised his colleague’s commitment to the gym.

He said: ‘His discipline is incredible – he is up and in the gym at 4.30 in the morning, every morning.’

‘When we arrived there was a “Jackman” effect and we all started training to try and keep up.’

Jackman also revealed in a new interview with Men’s Health magazine that he had renowned fitness junkie actor The Rock, aka Dwayne Johnson, on speed dial if he needed any workout advice.

He said: ‘The first time I rang him he was in his trailer and there was a knock on the door and someone says, “They need you on set, Dwayne.”

‘He told me to hang on a sec and then said to them, “You tell them on set I’m talking to f**king Wolverine, alright! Now go away!” ‘

The father-of-two added that he has always found the actor to be something of an inspiration, adding: ‘He was the one that really showed me that you need to get an extra workout into the day. The Rock goes heavy in the morning then does some more weights later on, then goes on the elliptical trainer to keep his heart rate up.

‘That way, he’s never going to put on any fat, regardless of how much he’s eating.’