If your husband's Wolverine, it takes a lot more than just appearing on Sesame Street to impress your kids. So Deborra-Lee Furness's two children were a little blase when she stopped by the world's favourite street to have a chat with Elmo. ''Oh, they'd already met Elmo,'' she said. ''But they were thrilled that I did it.''

The veteran Australian actress cuddles up to Elmo to talk about adoption, the topic that's become a passionate personal crusade.

It wasn't the first time Sesame Street has tackled adoption. Three years ago the pioneering children's show featured veterinarian Gina adopting a baby from Guatemala.

''We thought, how great to have a character [children] know, Elmo, talking about adoption. And it's great for the adopted kid because they see their journey being talked about by someone [who's] a very comfortable figure for them.''

Furness is speaking from the New York apartment she shares with superstar husband Hugh Jackman and their two children. She's working, taking interviews, organising an event for her charity to mark National Adoption Awareness Week in Sydney. Her latest film, Blessed, has garnered good reviews. She's married to one of the sexiest men alive. Life looks good, but adoption is still on her agenda.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times