Inside Hugh Jackman’s relationship with Sutton Foster after ex-wife’s Deborra-Lee Furness’ ‘betrayal’ statement
The actors were married for 27 years before announcing their shock split in 2023.
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness’ split has taken an unexpected turn with the Waiting actor opening up on her experience with ‘betrayal.’
The Wolverine star, 56, and his ex-wife, 69, announced their separation in September 2023, which appeared to be amicable.
But Deborra has since seemingly hinted at adultery playing a part in their shock split, releasing a statement talking about ‘betrayal’ amid the breakdown of her 27-year marriage.
An insider told MailOnline that Hugh was ‘extremely disappointed’ to read Deborra’s statement just days after she filed for divorce.
Since their split, Hugh has moved on with another actor, with reports suggesting they are set to move in together.
Who is Hugh Jackman dating now?Hugh confirmed he was dating Broadway star Sutton Foster 16 months after splitting from Deborra.
Hugh Jackman confirmed earlier this year he was dating Tony Award-winning star Sutton Foster (Picture: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) It is thought they met while starring in The Music Man together in 2022 (Picture: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)Just days prior to the announcement, the X-Men icon was spotted watching the 50-year-old actor on stage in Once Upon a Mattress in Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre.
Their budding romance comes just months after Sutton filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, Screenwriter Ted Griffin, in October 2024.
It is thought that Hugh and Sutton first met after starring in the Broadway show The Music Man together in 2022.
The pair both praised each other after starring together, with Sutton telling People in June 2024: ‘He’s one of the greatest guys ever, an incredible costar. I think everyone already knows that, though.’
During a joint appearance with Sutton on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2022, Hugh also gushed: ‘This is a six-time Tony nominee, two-time winner. Like, I saw her do Thoroughly Modern Millie when you were like 4 years old. But I’ve watched everything she’s done. It’s amazing.’
Who is Sutton Foster?Sutton is best known as a Broadway actor who made her stage debut in 1996 in Grease as Sandy Dumbrowski.
Sutton is best known for her work on Broadway (Picture: Bruce Glikas/WireImage)She has since had roles in Shrek the Musical, Anything Goes, and Thoroughly Modern Millie, which earned her her first Tony Award.
Sutton has also made the move into the world of film and TV with roles in The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, and Younger.
Who is Deborra-Lee Furness?Like her ex-husband, Deborra is an actor who began her career in an unlikely fashion.
She first got a job as an assistant to the news director at Channel 9 in Australia before being asked to work on the daytime current affairs programme No Man’s Land.
She first performed on the stage after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 80s before landing her first movie role in Shame in 1998.
She went on to star in the likes of TV miniseries Stark and Michael Rymer’s Angel Baby before landing the title role in the TV series Correlli in 1995.
Hugh and Deborra-Lee first met on the set of Correlli and instantly became inseparable, with the Wolverine actor getting down on one knee just months later.
Why is Hugh Jackman getting divorced?Neither Hugh nor Deborra has publicly announced why the couple has split, but the latter recently hinted at infidelity in their relationship.
Hugh and Deborra announced their shock split in 2023 (Picture: Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage) The former couple had been married for 27 years (Picture: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)Deborra spoke about ‘navigating betrayal’ in a statement released on May 28, just days after filing for divorce.
‘My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,’ she began.
‘It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however, I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.’
She then specifically spoke about her 27-year marriage to Hugh, saying: ‘This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage.
‘I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose.
‘It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.
The Waiting actor shared a cutting statement addressing her experience with ‘betrayal’ (Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images)She then added ‘that none of this is personal,’ and said: ‘We are all on our individual journeys and I believe that the relationships in our lives are not random.
‘We are drawn to people, we invite them in, in order to learn our lessons and to recognise and heal the broken parts of ourselves…I remain grateful,’ she concluded her statement to MailOnline.
Hugh has since responded to the statement, with an insider saying he was ‘extremely disappointed.’
‘Hugh was extremely disappointed after reading what his ex had said,’ an insider told MailOnline.
‘There was no stipulation that she could not address this, but there was an unwritten understanding that she would not trash him to the press.’
The insider suggested that Deborra ‘got around’ this agreement and added that Hugh ‘caved’ to her divorce requests.
An insider close to the X-Men star said Hugh was ‘extremely disappointed’ to red Deborra’s comments (Picture: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)‘She got around this by not naming him – instead focusing on how she felt.
‘Hugh knows that he cannot change anything, and it is unfortunate that Deb feels the way she did given the fact that he caved in to all of her divorce requests.’
Announcing their separation in September 2023, the couple was amicable.
‘We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,’ their joint statement to People at the time read.
‘Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.’
‘Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.
‘We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.’
Does Hugh Jackman have children?Hugh and Deborra share two adopted children named Oscar, 25, and Ava, 19.
Metro has reached out to representatives for Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman for comment.
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