Hugh Jackman's Rom-Com Charm: A Look At His Role In 'The Wedding Date

No, Hugh Jackman does not play in the movie The Wedding Date. Jackman is an Australian actor best known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men film franchise. He has also starred in other popular films such as The Greatest Showman and Les Miserables. In addition to his acting career, Jackman was married to Deborra-Lee Furness, an actress and producer, for 27 years before they amicably separated in 2023. The couple has two adopted children together and Jackman has described Furness as his best friend and a source of support in his career and personal life.

Hugh Jackman's divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness

Australian actor Hugh Jackman and his wife, actress and producer Deborra-Lee Furness, announced their divorce in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage. The couple shared the news in a joint statement, saying:

> "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 added that their "highest priority" would always be their family, as they share two children: Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18. The couple adopted their two children after Furness suffered two miscarriages.

Jackman and Furness met in 1995 on the set of the Australian TV series Correlli and married less than a year later on April 11, 1996. Their last red-carpet appearance was at the Met Gala on May 1, 2023, and they attended the men's finals at Wimbledon in July 2023.

In an interview with People in 2017, Jackman recalled the first time he met Furness:

> "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.'"

Furness also appeared to reference the breakup in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in January 2024, saying:

> "You know what, change, transition, evolution is a little frightening and we are all a bit scared of it but I think it is probably our greatest gift. It is kind of exciting."

Despite their divorce, the former couple have remained on good terms. In October 2023, Jackman celebrated his 55th birthday with Furness at Polo Bar in Manhattan, New York. A representative for Jackman confirmed the friendly outing, saying, "Yes, it's true. It was a lovely evening."

Furness' thoughts on Jackman's sexuality

Deborra-Lee Furness has responded to rumours about her husband Hugh Jackman's sexuality with humour and wit. Furness has described the speculation as "boring" and "silly", and has said that if Jackman were gay, he would be “out and proud” and "dating Brad Pitt".

In an interview on 'Anh's Brush With Fame', Furness laughed off the rumours, saying:

> "He's been gay for so many years. I was gay, too. You know when I did 'Shame'? I was gay. They were shocked when I got married... It's just wrong. It's like someone saying to Elton John, 'He's straight.' I'm sure he'd be pissed."

Furness and Jackman were married for 27 years and share two children together. They met in 1995 on the set of the Australian TV series 'Correlli' and wed a year later. In September 2023, the couple announced their separation.

Jackman and Furness' children

Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman adopted two children: Oscar, born in 2000, and Ava, born in 2005. The couple had initially planned to have biological children, but after Furness suffered two miscarriages, they decided to adopt. "We thought we'd have a kid or two biologically and then adopt. But when we decided we'd had enough of IVF, we went ahead with adoption," Jackman told The Herald Sun.

Furness and Jackman specifically requested to adopt biracial children because there was "more of a need". "People will wait 18 months to adopt a little blonde girl; meanwhile, biracial children are turned away," Jackman told People magazine in 2007.

Oscar and Ava were raised out of the public eye, with their parents rarely sharing pictures of them or bringing them to public events. However, both Furness and Jackman have spoken openly about their experiences as parents and their efforts to honour their children's cultural backgrounds. "My daughter has a Mexican lineage, so we've been to Mexico," Furness told People in 2020. "What I'm very interested in is epigenetics, and it's even more so when you have adopted children because I'm coming from my lineage of my mother, how she parented me, how her mother parented her, and I'm translating that to my children," she added. "But my children also have a separate lineage. So it's almost like we have more players at the table."

Jackman and Furness also worked to instil a sense of humility in their children, despite their privileged upbringing. "My kids have so many advantages," Jackman told People in 2018. "And I want them to know that they have a responsibility to use those advantages to help others."

Now adults, Oscar and Ava have had open conversations with their father about mental health. At a 2022 screening of his film The Son, Jackman shared that his children "are totally fine" discussing the topic. "It was very important that I talk to [Oscar and Ava] about what [the film] was about, what it meant to me and why I was doing it," he said.

Jackman's career

Hugh Jackman is an Australian actor with a career spanning almost three decades. He is best known for his role as Wolverine in the 'X-Men' film franchise, but he has also received acclaim for his stage work and roles in films such as 'The Prestige' and 'Les Misérables'.

Jackman trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth, graduating in 1994. His first major professional job was in the 10-part drama series 'Correlli', where he also met his future wife, Deborra-Lee Furness. In 1996, Jackman played Gaston in the local Walt Disney production of 'Beauty and the Beast' and Joe Gillis in 'Sunset Boulevard'. He earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his performance as Curly McLain in the West End revival of 'Oklahoma!' in 1998.

Jackman's breakthrough role came in 2000 when he played Wolverine in Bryan Singer's 'X-Men'. He went on to reprise the role in numerous sequels and spin-offs, including 'X2' (2003), 'X-Men: The Last Stand' (2006), and 'Logan' (2017). In addition to his success in the 'X-Men' franchise, Jackman has also starred in films such as 'The Prestige' (2006), 'Australia' (2008), 'Les Misérables' (2012), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and 'The Greatest Showman' (2017).

Jackman has also had a successful career on Broadway, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2004 for his performance in 'The Boy from Oz'. He has since returned to Broadway in several productions, including 'A Steady Rain' (2009), 'The River' (2014-2015), and 'The Music Man' (2021-2023), for which he received his second nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

In addition to his acting career, Jackman has also been a vocal supporter of various charitable causes and organisations, including the Global Poverty Project and World Vision. He has also been a longtime proponent of microcredit and has narrated documentaries about global warming and social issues.

Jackman and Furness' relationship timeline

Jackman and Furness Relationship Timeline

• 1995: Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness meet on the set of Correlli and get engaged. Despite a 13-year age gap, Jackman knew "very early" that Furness was the one.
• April 11, 1996: The couple get married in a church outside Melbourne, Australia.
• 2000: They adopt their first child, a son named Oscar.
• July 2005: They adopt their second child, a daughter named Ava.
• June 10, 2012: Furness surprises Jackman with a Tony Award for his work on Broadway.
• February 24, 2013: Jackman is nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Les Misérables, with Furness by his side.
• February 1, 2016: Jackman praises Furness as the "greatest thing that ever happened" to him on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
• April 11, 2016: The couple celebrates their 20th wedding anniversary.
• June 5, 2017: Jackman and Furness reveal the secret to their long-lasting relationship is meditation.
• April 2018: Jackman calls Furness his "greatest gift" on their 22nd anniversary.
• October 12, 2018: Furness celebrates Jackman's 50th birthday with a thoughtful gift—a photo book of his life.
• April 10, 2019: Jackman cites "intimacy" as the key to their long marriage.
• June 30, 2019: Jackman serenades Furness with their wedding song, "All The Way" by Frank Sinatra, during his one-man show.
• March 11, 2020: Jackman says he and Furness "reset" their marriage and always make time for each other.
• April 11, 2021: The couple celebrates 25 years of marriage.
• August 19, 2021: Jackman opens up about his marriage on the Today show, calling it one of the "best things" in his life.
• November 30, 2021: Furness turns 66, and Jackman celebrates her birthday with a sweet tribute, calling her his "incredible wife".
• February 10, 2022: Furness reveals she helps Jackman with his lines for The Music Man on Broadway.
• April 11, 2022: The couple celebrates their 26th anniversary.
• December 22, 2022: Jackman and Furness perform a choreographed dance routine to Bruno Mars' "Finesse" in front of their Christmas tree.
• April 11, 2023: They celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary.
• May 1, 2023: The couple attends the Met Gala together in New York City.
• September 15, 2023: After 27 years of marriage, Jackman and Furness announce their separation, citing a need to pursue "individual growth".
• October 12, 2023: Despite their separation, Furness joins Jackman for his 55th birthday celebration.
• May 10, 2024: Furness reflects on her split from Jackman, stating that she has learned she is "strong and resilient".

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