Hugh Jackman splits with wife Deborra-Lee Furness: Couple end marriage after three decades together as they release statement saying they move forward ‘with gratitude, love and kindness’
- Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness end their marriage after 27 years
- The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18
- Pair released a joint statement on Friday confirming the shock breakup
Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness have announced they are set to end their marriage after three decades together.
“We were fortunate to share nearly three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful and loving marriage. Our journey is now changing and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,” the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“Our family has been and always will be our biggest priority. We begin this next chapter with gratitude, love and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding of respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.
The statement was signed by both men as “Deb and Hugh Jackman”, adding: “This is the only statement either of us will make.”
Hugh Jackman splits with wife Deborra-Lee Jackman: Couple end marriage after three decades together as they release statement saying they move forward ‘with gratitude, love and kindness’
The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18.
They have been married for 27 years.
At 67, the blonde Australian is 13 years older than Hugh, and they have previously said they have never spent more than two weeks apart since they married in 1996.
This April marked the couple’s 27th wedding anniversary and the Wolverine star paid a heartwarming tribute to his wife.
“I love you Deb. Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 years! I love you so much,” the actor told his 79.1 million social media followers.
This April marked the couple’s 27th wedding anniversary, and the Wolverine star posted a heartfelt tribute to his wife (including this recent photo of the couple)
Gusting article: Hugh paid tribute to his wife in April with this social media post
Inseparable: at 67, the Australian blonde is 13 years older than Hugh, but they have never spent more than two weeks apart since their marriage in 1996 (photo from 1997)
“Together we created a beautiful family. And life. Your laughter, your wit, your generosity, your humor, your insolence, your courage and your loyalty are an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart.’
Although he is undoubtedly better known than his wife, Deborra-Lee had already made 20 films by the time she and Jackman met while playing a prison psychologist and a suffering inmate of brain damage in ABC’s 10-episode series Correlli in 1995.
In 2000, the Music Man actor and Furness adopted their son Oscar Maximilian, who turns 23 next month, and in 2005, they adopted their 17-year-old daughter Ava Eliot.
“I think honesty, intimacy and saving time (are the secret to a long and happy marriage). You can’t just assume things will go as planned. You have to take the time,” Hugh told Smooth Radio in February.
Deborra-Lee recently played Jill Bailey alongside Eric Bana in Robert Connolly’s sequel Force of Nature: The Dry 2, which was released in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on August 24.
Hugh has never been shy about talking about his marriage and praised Deborra-Lee while promoting her hit film The Greatest Showman in 2017.
In an interview, he called Deborra-Lee his “best friend” and main source of support in his career and personal life.
Hugh said of his partner: “I’m married to the greatest woman in the world. She is incredible. We are best friends and we share everything. She is intelligent.’
