Marja Vongerichten Says Hugh Jackman’s a “Big Baby"… In the Kitchen

Hugh Jackman plays tough guys on the big screen, but how does he stack up against some spicy foods in the kitchen? Turns out the ripped star is a “big baby,” joked Marja Vongerichten, who featured the Reel Steel hunk in her PBS miniseries the Kimchi Chronicles, based on the book that's also named The Kimchi Chronicles: Korean Cooking for an American Kitchen.

“I called him a big baby because but he’s this guy who’s an action hero, and so tough. And you know, he could barely touch a hot piece of lobster,” Marja joked to OK! in a phone interview on Friday. “I didn’t even make the dish that he tried as spicy as I usually eat it, but he really can’t handle spice. It was kind of a surprise.”

The show follows Marja’s return to Korea where Marja was born to a South Korean mother and an African American father, and was adopted by Americans when she was 3-years-old. During filming she got the chance to rediscover her Korean heritage through its rich and spicy cuisine.

Marja has been overwhelmed by the success of the show and is pleased by how many people have reached out to her. “It’s been more than just a show about food, it’s opened up a discussion about culture, how we view ourselves and stuff that people go through to get where they are. It’s been fantastic.”