Deborra-Lee Furness Speaks Out on ‘Betrayal’ During Hugh Jackman Divorce
Deborra-Lee Furness, the estranged wife of Hugh Jackman, has finally spoken out following her divorce filing from the actor.
“I extend my heart and compassion to everyone dealing with the painful journey of betrayal,” said Furness, 69, in a statement to the Daily Mail on Tuesday, May 27.
“It’s a deep wound that hurts profoundly, yet I maintain faith in a higher power and believe that God, the universe, or whichever guidance you prefer, works in our favor,” Furness continued. “This conviction has aided me in navigating the end of nearly three decades of marriage. I have gained significant knowledge and wisdom from this experience. Even when faced with apparent challenges, they lead us towards our greatest good and our true purpose.”
“It can be painful, but ultimately, returning to yourself and embracing your integrity, values, and boundaries brings liberation and freedom,” Furness added.
Concluding her statement, the Australian actress shared that she has understood “none of this is personal,” and emphasized, “We are all on our own journeys, and I believe the connections we form are not mere coincidences.”
“We attract certain people into our lives to learn lessons and heal the broken pieces within ourselves… I remain grateful,” Furness stated.
Us Weekly confirmed on Tuesday that Furness filed for divorce from Jackman, 56, the previous week, just shy of two years after they announced their separation.
The divorce complaint was submitted in New York on Friday, May 23, as per court documents reviewed by Us. Furness’ attorney Elena Karabatos filed several documents indicating that both parties had settled the details of their divorce privately after announcing their breakup in September 2023.
The filings comprised “a notice concerning continuation of health care coverage,” a proposed “qualified medical child support order,” and a New York state case registry form to report child support orders in the area. Additionally, the divorce documents detailed their settlement, a proposed judgment of divorce, and a certificate of dissolution.
Furness and Jackman, 56, first met in 1995 while working on the Australian TV series Correlli. They married a year later and welcomed their son, Oscar, through adoption in 2000, later adopting their daughter, Ava, in 2005.
In 2024, Jackman moved on to Sutton Foster, with Us confirming in November that they were officially a couple. Jackman and Foster, 50, grew close during their 11-month run in Broadway’s The Music Man, which started in 2022.
As their romance became the focus, speculation arose that Jackman and Foster’s close relationship contributed to his split from Furness. An insider told Us in November 2024, “Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb got divorced.”
The source revealed, “Many on Broadway were aware, but we respected their privacy since both are wonderful individuals. Nevertheless, there was an affair and overlap.”
Foster, for her part, filed for divorce from her estranged husband Ted Griffin in October 2024. Together, they have a 7-year-old daughter named Emily.
Jackman and Foster went public with their relationship in January and have been seen supporting one another at various events. Meanwhile, Furness is focusing on her next chapter.
“Deb is currently in the process of rebuilding her life and planning a trip to Bhutan to find a fresh start and escape the pain,” a separate source exclusively told Us in March. “She has a robust support system of female friends and spends time with others who have faced similar circumstances, providing her with unwavering support.”
