Hugh Jackman and his wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, have announced their separation. The couple released a joint statement on Friday, saying that they are “deeply disappointed” to announce the news, but that they have “come to the decision to separate as a couple.”
“We have been blessed to share almost 3 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,” the statement reads.
“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.”
Jackman and Furness met in 1995 on the set of the Australian soap opera “Correlli.” They married in 1996 and have two children together, Oscar, 20, and Ava, 15.
“I knew two weeks into meeting Deb that we were going to be together for the rest of our lives,” he shared.
“In the end, what do you want from your life partner?” he explained. “You want to be fully seen and you want to be able to fully see them for exactly who (they) really are. And Deb and I had that from the beginning.”
The couple have been open about their struggles with infertility. They adopted Oscar in 2000 and Ava in 2005.
In a 2012 interview with People magazine, Jackman said that he and Furness were “very lucky” to have found each other. “We’re soulmates,” he said. “We’re meant to be together.”
At their 25 year mark, Hugh wrote: “Being married to you Deb is as natural as breathing,” the actor captioned the post which featured photos from their wedding day.
“From nearly the moment we met … I knew our destiny was to be together. In our 25 years — our love has only grown deeper. The fun, excitement and adventure more exhilarating; the learning even greater.”
Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-lee are amicably ending their marriage after 27 years: https://t.co/gm5kw3nWiU pic.twitter.com/yATjZkYtAA
— People (@people) September 15, 2023
