Hugh Jackman says that upcoming musical movie Les Misérables is very "realistic," Belfast Telegraph said.

The Australian actor plays ex-convict Jean Valjean in the big screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel.

And he told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper that the film, which also stars Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe, will be unlike anything movie-goers have ever seen in a film musical.

"We sing as we act, rather than lay down songs weeks in advance," he shared.

"It makes it much more realistic - particularly with a gritty story like this."

Audiences who have been privy to preview screenings are said to have been moved to tears with the emotional tale and breathtaking performances.

Hugh recently told Vogue that the gritty storyline meant that the atmosphere while filming was often tense but that the "pressure and excitement was exhilarating."

The Hollywood star is so thrilled with Anne's performance that he is already tipping her to win an Oscar for the role that she cut her long brown hair off for.

Les Misérables opens on Christmas Day in the US.