After nearly three decades of marriage, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have finalized their divorce, closing a chapter that once inspired many as one of Hollywood’s most enduring love stories.
Furness officially filed for an uncontested divorce in New York’s Suffolk County on May 23, 2025, according to court records. The filing came nearly two years after the couple quietly separated, though they didn’t announce the split publicly until September 2023. Their joint statement, released exclusively to People, read:
“We have been blessed to share almost three 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. Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.”
Jackman, 56, and Furness, 69, first met while filming the 1995 Australian television drama Correlli. At the time, Jackman was a relative newcomer, and Furness was an established actress. Their chemistry was instant, though Jackman admitted years later that he was initially nervous to act on his feelings.
“I was jealous, I had a crush, and I was mortified,” Jackman shared in a 2017 interview with People. “This was maybe six weeks into shooting… I bet everyone knows. So I didn’t talk to Deb for a week.” His feelings eventually came to light during a dinner party he hosted—and to his surprise, they were mutual. The couple married in April 1996.
Now, after nearly three decades, the relationship has come to an official end—but not without reflection. Furness recently broke her silence in an emotional statement to the Daily Mail, describing the divorce as “a profound wound that cuts deep.”
“My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,” she said. While she did not elaborate on what “betrayal” referred to, her words point to emotional pain experienced during the dissolution of their marriage.
Despite the hurt, Furness expressed deep spiritual reflection and resilience. “I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us,” she said. “Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose… Returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values, and boundaries is liberation and freedom.”
Furness emphasized that she holds no bitterness, adding: “None of this is personal… We are drawn to people in order to learn our lessons and to recognize and heal the broken parts of ourselves. I remain grateful.”
Meanwhile, Jackman has been photographed spending time with Music Man co-star Sutton Foster. The two were spotted holding hands during a quiet dinner in Santa Monica earlier this year. Foster, 50, filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin in late 2024. When asked about Jackman at the 2024 Drama Desk Awards, Foster called him “one of the greatest guys ever, an incredible co-star.”
While speculation swirls about Jackman’s possible new romance, he has continued focusing on his acting career. In 2024, he starred alongside Ryan Reynolds in the highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine film. Furness also returned to the big screen, appearing in Force of Nature, a mystery thriller sequel directed by Robert Connolly.
The former couple share two children: son Oscar and daughter Ava.