A fun protective mechanism: Muscular Hugh Jackman keeps his daughter Ava close with a piggyback ride following absurd stalker incident

Who needs a gym weights when you have a seven-year-old daughter to swing around?
As Hugh Jackman hoisted his daughter Ava onto his back and piggybacked her into their New York apartment on Tuesday, the actor's bulging biceps looked ready to burst at any minute.
Following his bizarre stalker attack on Saturday, it's not surprising that the 44-year-old star kept his daughter extremely close - when she was not on her father's back, her hand was firmly anchored in his.

Who needs weights? Hugh Jackman launched his seven-year-old daughter Ava onto his back after picking her up from a session at a New York children's gym

Heave-ho! Hugh's enormous muscles looked about ready to burst as tiny Ava made the climb

Little Ava smiled brightly and appeared to be full of energy, having just finished a session at a children's gym.
The Les Miserables star sported a casual navy polo and baggy jeans, with a grey sweater tied around his waist.
Perhaps the addition of dark sunglasses were an attempt to hide his identity from Saturday's razor-wielding stalker, Kathleen Thurston.

Keeping a low profile: the actor hid behind sunglasses following the freakish stalker incident

Luckily, 47-year-old Thurston was taken to Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday night and is presumably in custody.
The woman ran at Hugh yelling that she loved him before producing the razor, covered with pubic hairs.
Though the Australian actor flashed the odd smile and put on a brave face for Ava, you couldn't help but notice a hint of wariness on his face.

Slightly wary: it's not surprising that Hugh is not entirely at peace about Saturday's incident

'I suppose for me, the primary concern is my family, obviously,' the actor told CBS New York regarding his stalker.
From the moment the protective father retrieved his daughter from the car, he did not appear to break contact with her even once.
The muscular Wolverine star launched Ava onto his back immediately for fun piggyback ride, conveniently doubling as a protective mechanism.
When she was not on his back, Hugh maintained a noticeably staunch grip on his daughter's tiny hand and wrist, with his own famously claw-ready hands.

Keeping a firm hold: the protective father was not going to let his seven-year-old daughter leave his side, his veins bulging as he gripped her hand

Claw-ready: the Wolverine star looked ready to produce those famous claws if need be

Despite putting on a happy face and returning to the gym on Monday, the muscular actor must surely harbor a new level of concern for his children and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness.
The family man and actor is fine-tuning his muscular strength in preparation for the next X-Men movie, in which he is set to reprise his role of Wolverine.
He appears to be on the right track, too, with protruding veins and muscles so inflated it appears a larger polo shirt may soon be in order.

Return of the guns: Hugh Jackman is currently beefing up to reprise his role as the famously clawed Wolverine in Bryan Singer's X-Men: Days of Future Past