Hugh Jackman recently opened up about his separation from wife Deborra-Lee Furness after 27 years of marriage. The Australian star broke his silence during an encounter with photographers in New York City over the weekend, in a video captured by TMZ he admitted that “it’s a difficult time” for him. He also added, “I appreciate your thoughts.”
The couple announced their separation in a joint statement, “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness told People.
They expressed their gratitude for 27 years they spent together as husband and wife. They also emphasised that their decision to separate is driven by their individual growth and that their family will always remain their highest priority.
While some reports have attributed the strain in their relationship to the COVID-19 pandemic and the writers’ strike in Hollywood, the couple has not disclosed specific reasons for their separation. The lockdowns and challenges brought on by the pandemic certainly didn’t help their marriage, and the writers’ strike further complicated matters.
It seems that their love for each other had shifted towards friendship in recent years, and despite their efforts, they couldn’t salvage their relationship.
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness first met on the set of the Australian TV drama Corelli in 1995, and their connection was instant. They tied the knot in April 1996 and have two adopted children, Oscar and Ava.