The Way They Were: Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman’s wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, was considered by many to be potentially the luckiest woman alive until their split in September 2023.

"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," they told PEOPLE in a joint statement on Sept. 14. "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."

Here is everything you need to know about Hugh Jackman’s wife Deborra-Lee Furness and love story, right up to its sad ending.

Is Hugh Jackman married?

Hugh Jackman is indeed married—for now. He has been married to his wife Deborra-Lee Furness since April 11, 1996—that's 27 years! The pair announced their separation on Sept. 14, 2023, but the couple aren't yet divorced.

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Who is Hugh Jackman's wife?

Hugh Jackman’s wife is fellow Australian actress (and producer/director) Deborra-Lee Furness. The two met in 1995 and married a year later on April 11, 1996. They were been together for 28 years and married for 27.

Who was Hugh Jackman's first wife?

As Hugh Jackman has only been married once, his first wife is Deborra-Lee Furness. They have been together since 1995 and married since 1996. That was an eternity by Hollywood standards!

How did Hugh Jackman meet his wife?

Hugh Jackman met Deborra-Lee Furness at work when they were both cast in the Australian television series Corelli in 1995. At the time, Jackman was just beginning his career, while Furness was an established actress with a 20-year career in entertainment.

Jackman recalled the exact moment they met to PEOPLE in 2017. “Deb, she was a big star. I get picked up, and Deb is in the front seat of the car. I’ll never forget. She took off her seatbelt and she turned around and put out her hand and took off her sunglasses and said, ‘Hi, I’m Deborra-Lee Furness, nice to meet you.’ I remember thinking, ‘I like this girl.'”

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How old was Hugh Jackman when he met his wife?

Hugh Jackman was right out of acting school when he was cast in the Australian television series Corelli in 1995, which would turn out to be his big break. As the actor’s birthday is Oct. 12, 1968, that would make him 27 years old when he met his future wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

After meeting, Jackman admitted it took him six weeks to ask the actress out. “Deb and I were already best friends, and I realized, 'I’ve got a crush on my leading lady. This is the thing you do not do. It’s unprofessional and embarrassing.'”

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How much older is Hugh Jackman's wife?

Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness have a 13-year age difference between them. In an unusual twist in Hollywood, Jackman is actually 13 years younger than Furness.

What is the age difference between Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman?

There is a 13-year age difference between Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman, with Furness being 13 years older than Jackman.

When did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness get married?

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness got married on April 11, 1996, after meeting the year before. They had a non-traditional ceremony, with the groom choosing to wear his glasses and the bride donning white slacks instead of a gown. They married 11 months after they first met.

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Are Hugh Jackman's kids adopted?

As Deborra-Lee Furness was 40 when the two tied the knot, the newlyweds set about trying to conceive immediately. Sadly, they ran into fertility issues that they were unable to overcome, even with medical intervention. As a result, they adopted both of their children.

How many kids did Hugh Jackman adopt?

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have adopted two children together. Oscar Maximilian was adopted in May of 2000 and Ava Eliot was adopted in July 2005.

Jackman and Furness believed it was important to teach their children gratitude, the actor told PEOPLE in 2018. “My kids have so many advantages. And I want them to know that they have a responsibility to use those advantages to help others … My kids are constantly reminded about how lucky we are in our family. We're ridiculously blessed. We live in a beautiful home in places that other people dream of."

What is Deborra-Lee Furness famous for?

In her native Australia, Deborra-Lee Furness is quite a famous actress. She had her breakout film role in 1988 with Shame. By the time she met her future husband Hugh Jackman in 1995, she was already a well-established actress.

Of course, nowadays she is also famous for being the estranged wife of X-Men actor Hugh Jackman as well. She has additionally become well-known for her charity work, mainly with assisting orphans worldwide and advocating to streamline international adoptions. She is one of the creators, as well as a patron, of National Adoption Awareness Month in Australia.

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What does Deborra-Lee Furness do for a living?

Deborra-Lee Furness is an actress, producer, director and adoption advocate. She has been working in the entertainment industry in Australia since the 1980s. She was already a famous actress in her own right when she met Jackman in 1995.

Where was Deborra-Lee Furness born?

Deborra-Lee Furness was born in a suburb of Sydney known as Annandale in Australia. Her birthday is Nov. 30, 1955. Like Jackman, she is an Australian-born and raised member of the entertainment community.

What movies has Deborra-Lee Furness been in?

Deborra-Lee Furness has appeared in several film and TV projects, especially in her native Australia. In 1985, she appeared in Crossover Dreams as the Statue of Liberty and Jenny Kissed Me. The following year, she was in the movie Cool Change. In 1987, she acted in The Bit Part as Acting Teacher.

She would see the premiere of her breakout hit with her role as Asta Cadell in Shame in 1988. That same year, she appeared in the Meryl Streep-starring A Cry in the Dark and Two Brothers Running. The next year, she acted in The Humpty Dumpty Man and followed that up with 1990’s The Last of the Finest. She appeared in Voyager and Waiting in 1991. She appeared in 1992’s Newsies alongside Christian Bale. Her next film role came in 1995’s Angel Baby, though she had television roles in between movies.

In 1998, she appeared in The Real Macaw. The next movie she acted in was 2006’s Jindabyne. Two years later she had a role in 2008’s Sleepwalking, followed by 2009’s Beautiful and Blessed the same year. She completed a voiceover role in 2010’s Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. In the following years, Furness has only appeared onscreen in television roles, though she has also directed and produced projects.

What is Deborra-Lee Furness' net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Deborra-Lee Furness’ net worth is $50 million. However, it is important to note that the site does report that the majority of her net worth is attributed to Jackman. Jackman himself has an estimated net worth of $180 million.

Is Hugh Jackman's wife rich?

With an estimated net worth of $50 million, Deborra-Lee Furness would indeed be considered rich. However, Jackman, whose net worth is reported to be $180 million, definitely makes her look almost poor in comparison. Almost.

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