Former Quirindi man Jamie Jackson appears as Jackman’s boss in the film, which tells the story of PT Barnum and the birth of showbusiness.

Mr Jackson, who shot the film about a year ago, described it as having been “a thrill” and “a great experience”.

“Overall, while the story is fairly simple and doesn’t dig deeply into the painful and complicated history of circus ‘freaks’, I think it’s an enjoyable, modern movie musical,” he said.

“The bald guy who plays Hugh Jackman’s boss is a real standout.”

Mr Jackson said his scene was shot in an unused Brooklyn factory on a very cold winter’s day, after pre-shoot days for costume fittings.

He said one of the highlights of shooting was working with Jackman, whom he said was  “unusually down-to-earth and yet the consummate professional”.

“Once he realised I was a fellow Aussie, we shared a lot of laughs at our American cast members’ expense – there really is nothing like the Aussie sense of humour,” Mr Jackson said.

“It’s also a thrill doing a period piece like this.

“You look around the set and everyone – except the crew, of course – is dressed like they just stepped out of another world, and the scenery and props all suggest a different era, so it’s like you get to time travel for the day.

“On big movies like this, no expense is spared, so everywhere you look, every detail feels authentic.”

The New York resident and his wife SoHee Youn attended a cast and crew screening a couple of weeks ago.

He said the flick was a lot of fun and visually exciting, with an upbeat score.

His tip for the next big thing from this film is Keala Settle, who plays the Bearded Lady.

“Word is she’s about to blow up big time in Hollywood.”

Mr Jackson has recently finished shooting an episode of Quantico playing a South African arms dealer, and also played a white supremacist on Elementary earlier this year.

“I don’t think too much on why I’m always playing the bad guy; it’s a lot more fun and I do try not to take my work home.”

He’s also just completed a short run of a revival of Brigadoon at City Center, and he and Ms Youn, a composer, are preparing to move from readings and workshops into production of their own musical, I Spy a Spy.

“New York is going through an exciting time in many respects – the film and TV industry is booming here and theatre, especially music theatre, is going through a real renaissance,” Mr Jackson said.

Mr Jackson has recently worked with another fellow Australian in Baz Lurhmann on the Netflix series The Getdown, which he said “made me understand why he is time and again entrusted with enormous budgets based on nothing but his ideas”.

“He is a passionate visionary.

“In moment after moment, he would come up with a new camera angle, a new prop idea – for example, he decided at 11pm one night on the set he wanted to shoot a scene through the roof and have bubbles descending on us.

“This holds up shooting, but is also often what turns a good moment into a great one.

“Like everything in life, the difference between standard and exceptional is the preparedness to take risks and inspire others around you to go the extra mile.

“It’s always exciting to work with people who are pushing the boundaries.”