Publications
Partners
Hugh Jackman’s announcement that he's splitting from wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, has shocked his fans, but according to a showbiz insider it’s "not that uncommon”.
“Twenty-seven years of marriage in a showbusiness marriage, that’s a long time. That’s like 186 years in real people’s terms,” says Peter Ford, one of Australia’s top entertainment reporters.
Ford was speaking to 6PR Breakfast with Millsy and Karl. “It’s not the most uncommon scenario for a couple in their fifties and sixties that once the kids are off their hands, they decide the glue that held this together isn’t there anymore and we’re going to go our separate paths," he says.
Australian-born Hugh (54) and actress-turned-producer Deborra-Lee (67), have two kids, Oscar (23) and Ava (18).
Ford also dismissed the rumours that cracks in their marriage were showing as far back as early 2022 when Deborra-Lee was rarely seen accompanying her husband to rehearsals for his Broadway show, The Music Man.
“Why would she? She wasn’t in it!”
An insider told Page Six that there was no third party involved in their split, but that they'd been living like “roommates”.
The couple, who met on the set of the Australian TV series Correlli in 1995, often faced trolling over their 13-year age gap, but they’d always blow it off.
Rumours have also swirled for years over Hugh’s sexuality, with some claiming he’s secretly gay.
In a 2013 interview with Australia’s 60 Minutes Hugh expressed his frustration over the constant speculation, saying, “It’s, to me, not the most interesting thing about a person, anyway".
“If he was gay, fine, he’d say he's gay. It’s annoying because it’s not true," his wife added.
Ford added that years ago he used to work out at the same gym as the actor, and he’d often see him hanging out at The Melbourne Theosophical Society, where members study and discuss philosophy, religion and science.
In a joint statement the former couple said they were “blessed” to have shared almost three decades together as husband and wife in a “wonderful, loving marriage,” but that their “journey is now shifting”.
“We have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”
READ MORE | Hugh Jackman: 'My cancer is back'
“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. This is the sole statement either of us will make.”
Hugh, who has reportedly been leaning on close friend and his Deadpool 3 co-star, Ryan Reynolds, for support, once said he and Deborra-Lee had never spent more than two weeks apart since their wedding day in 1996.
Speaking to paparazzi on the street last week in Los Angeles, he admitted he and his soon-to-be-ex wife are struggling with their split. “It's a difficult time,” he said.
Over the years he's always shared loving posts on their wedding anniversaries. This year on Valentine's Day he wrote, “Happy Valentine’s, Love. You light up the room wherever you go . . . your humour, generosity, wisdom and spirit shines so bright. I celebrate you on our 28th Valentine’s together. I [heart] you.”
Sources: dailymail.co.uk, homenewshere.com, marca.com, Instagram
