Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness split amid co‑star rumours
The crisis in Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness's marriage surprised fans worldwide. According to media reports, the reason for the couple's split might be the actor's close relationship with Sutton Foster, his co-star from the musical "The Music Man".
Hugh Jackman, known for roles in films like "X-Men," "Les Misérables," and "The Greatest Showman," met Deborra-Lee Furness in 1995 on the set of the TV show "Correlli," where they both starred. She portrayed a prison psychologist while he played a prisoner with a brain injury. A year later, they married and have been an inseparable couple since.
Together, they adopted two children: son Oscar Maximilian, aged 24, and daughter Ava Eliot, aged 19. Over the years, they have supported each other in their professional careers and engaged in numerous charitable activities. Deborra-Lee is a well-known actress and director who is actively working on adoption and children's rights.
Many were surprised by the couple's decision to separate. In a statement, the couple emphasised their parting amicably and respectfully. "We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth," they stated in 2023.
The real reasons for the marriage's breakup
Media worldwide began to speculate about the possible reasons for their relationship's breakdown. Sixty-eight-year-old Deborra-Lee Furness liked a video by gossip blogger Tasha Lustig on Instagram on 26 October. The video suggested that Jackman plans to "gently reveal" his new relationship with Foster. Furness's friend, Amanda de Cadenet, commented on the post saying, "You are right about this. My beloved friend Deb will soon shine, by the way!"
It is notable that Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster began working on the revival of the musical "The Music Man" in March 2020, right before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackman played the role of Harold Hill, and Foster portrayed Marian Paroo. The show premiered on Broadway in February 2022 and ran at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York until January 2023.
"Us Weekly" magazine quotes a source close to Foster, claiming, "Sutton and Hugh's relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb split. A lot of people on Broadway knew and we kept it quiet because they're both such nice and amazing people. Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap."
Another insider claims that Deborra-Lee Furness was "surprised" when she learned about her husband's relationship with Foster. "It was apparently Broadway’s worst-kept secret, and Deborra-lee was the last to know" says the source.
The couple faces the challenge of dividing Jackman's wealth, estimated at £148 million. "[For a] woman who’s been in a marriage for [27] years who then discovers her partner was unfaithful and isn’t trustworthy, it’s a pretty devastating life experience," says Deborra-Lee's friend.
It is worth noting that Sutton Foster filed for an "uncontested divorce" from her second husband, Ted Griffin, on 22 October in the New York County Supreme Court. The couple had been married for ten years and adopted a daughter, Emily.
Hugh Jackman has several new film projects ahead. Soon, we will see him in the musical "Song Sung Blue" directed by Craig Brewer, and in the drama "The Death of Robin Hood" by Michael Sarnoski.
