Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness were married for 27 years. They had two adopted children. They publicly adored each other at every opportunity. They were Hollywood's gold standard for marriage.
Then, in September 2023, they announced their separation.
The news shocked everyone. If Hugh and Deborra-Lee couldn't make it, who could? What happened to the couple who seemed to have figured it out?
The Love Story
Hugh and Deborra-Lee met in 1995 on an Australian TV show called Correlli. She was the established star; he was the unknown newcomer. She was 40; he was 26.
The age gap raised eyebrows. Hollywood rarely lets older women date younger men. But they didn't care.
They married in 1996—before Hugh was famous. Before Wolverine. Before the musicals and the Sexiest Man Alive titles. She chose him when he was nobody.
The Public Perfection
For 27 years, Hugh and Deborra-Lee presented a united front:
- Red carpet appearances holding hands
- Interviews praising each other effusively
- Anniversary posts on social media
- Public declarations of gratitude and love
He called her "the greatest thing that ever happened to me." She called him "the most beautiful person I know."
It seemed perfect. Maybe too perfect.
The Wolverine Pressure
Hugh Jackman became a global superstar. That creates pressures:
- Months away filming
- Constant travel for promotion
- Physical demands (Wolverine required extreme training)
- Public attention everywhere
Deborra-Lee's career slowed while Hugh's exploded. She became "Hugh Jackman's wife" more than her own entity. That imbalance is difficult to manage.
The Sutton Foster Timeline
Within weeks of the divorce announcement, Hugh was linked to Sutton Foster—his co-star in The Music Man on Broadway.
The timeline is suspicious:
- They did The Music Man together in 2022
- The chemistry was visible
- Hugh and Deborra-Lee separated in 2023
- Hugh and Sutton were photographed together soon after
Whether the relationship started before the divorce is unknown. But the timing suggests at minimum an emotional connection during the marriage.
Sutton Foster's Own Divorce
Sutton Foster also divorced her husband—screenwriter Ted Griffin—around the same time.
Two divorces. Same timeline. Same connection point: The Music Man.
The implication is unavoidable.
What Changed?
After 27 years, what made Hugh and Deborra-Lee end it? Possible factors:
The empty nest Their children became adults. Sometimes couples realize they stayed together for the kids.
Career evolution Hugh's career kept growing; Deborra-Lee's didn't. The imbalance may have become unsustainable.
New connection Sutton Foster's presence suggests Hugh found something he wasn't getting at home.
Accumulated distance 27 years of intense careers may have simply worn them down.
Deborra-Lee's Side
Deborra-Lee has been relatively quiet since the announcement, but:
- She kept her married name initially
- She's focused on her charitable work
- She hasn't spoken negatively about Hugh
- She seems to be healing privately
Sources say she was "blindsided" by the split. Whether that's true is unknown.
Hugh's Side
Hugh has also stayed quiet, but his actions speak:
- He's been photographed with Sutton Foster
- He's continued working intensely
- He hasn't addressed the timeline questions
- He's let the public draw conclusions
His silence on Sutton is notable. Usually innocent situations get clarified. This one hasn't been.
The Public Reaction
People were genuinely sad:
- "Not Hugh and Deb!"
- "If they can't make it, there's no hope"
- "This is worse than finding out Santa isn't real"
The parasocial grief was real. People had invested in believing their marriage was solid.
The Age Gap Question
Hugh and Deborra-Lee's 13-year age gap was always part of their story. She was the older, successful woman; he was the young talent.
As Hugh became one of the world's biggest stars, did the dynamic shift? Did he grow beyond the relationship? Did she feel left behind?
We can't know. But age-gap relationships face these questions more acutely.
The Cheating Question
The biggest unanswered question: Did Hugh cheat?
Evidence for:
- Sutton Foster's immediate presence
- The parallel divorces
- The timeline of The Music Man
- Hugh's silence
Evidence against:
- No confirmation from anyone
- Celebrity rumors are often wrong
- Emotional connections aren't necessarily physical cheating
The truth may never be known publicly.
Hollywood Marriage Reality
The Jackman-Furness divorce reinforces what we know:
- Long marriages can still end
- Public perfection isn't real
- Careers strain relationships
- New people create new possibilities
- 27 years doesn't guarantee forever
It's not cynical—it's realistic. Marriage is hard. Fame makes it harder.
The Children
Oscar and Ava Jackman are adults now. They're reportedly handling the divorce well, with:
- Continued relationships with both parents
- Privacy being protected
- No public statements
Whatever happened between Hugh and Deborra-Lee, the kids seem to be okay.
What Happens Now
The future for Hugh and Deborra-Lee:
Hugh: Likely continues working intensely. Relationship with Sutton Foster may become public. Another marriage is possible.
Deborra-Lee: Likely focuses on charity work and advocacy. May stay private. May eventually speak about the marriage.
The public narrative: Will depend on what emerges about the Sutton Foster timeline.
The Lesson
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness taught us something we didn't want to learn:
There are no guarantees. Not 27 years. Not public declarations of love. Not surviving fame together.
Every marriage is vulnerable. Even the ones that look perfect.
Especially the ones that look perfect.
The Sadness
The real emotion here isn't scandal—it's sadness:
- For a relationship that clearly worked for a long time
- For Deborra-Lee, who may have been left behind
- For the kids, even if they're handling it well
- For the idea that love can last
Hugh and Deborra-Lee's marriage wasn't fake. It was real, and then it ended.
That's not a failure of their marriage. That's just marriage.
Sometimes 27 years is what you get. Sometimes that's still an achievement.
Even if it doesn't feel like one right now.