Deborra-Lee Furness is an Australian actress, producer, director and adoption advocate who was married to Hugh Jackman for nearly three decades. The former couple met in 1995 while working together on the Australian television series Corelli and married the following year.
Their relationship became one of the better-known Australian celebrity marriages, lasting for 29 years before they announced their separation in September 2023. Their divorce was finalized in June 2025.
Although Furness became internationally recognized as Hugh Jackman’s wife, she already had a long career in Australian entertainment before meeting him. She was an established actress, filmmaker and advocate with a particular interest in adoption and helping children.
Who Is Deborra-Lee Furness?
Deborra-Lee Furness is an Australian actress who has worked in the entertainment industry since the 1980s. She was born on November 30, 1955, in Annandale, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.
By the time she met Hugh Jackman, Furness had already built a professional reputation in Australian film and television. Her breakthrough came with the 1988 film Shame, in which she played Asta Cadell.
Her career later expanded beyond acting. Furness also worked as a producer and director and became known for her advocacy related to adoption.
While international audiences often know her because of her former marriage to Jackman, her career existed independently of their relationship.
How Did Hugh Jackman Meet Deborra-Lee Furness?
Jackman and Furness met in 1995 when they were both cast in the Australian television series Corelli.
At the time, Jackman was still at the beginning of his acting career. Furness, who was 13 years older, was already an established actress with considerable experience in the entertainment business.
Jackman later recalled being immediately drawn to Furness when they first met. The two became friends while working together, and Jackman eventually realized that his feelings had become romantic.
He has previously described taking several weeks before asking Furness out because he was concerned about mixing a personal relationship with their professional lives.
Their relationship moved quickly once they began dating. Within about a year of meeting, they were married.
When Did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness Get Married?
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness married on April 11, 1996, just 11 months after their first meeting.
Their wedding was not a traditional Hollywood-style ceremony. Furness wore white pants instead of a conventional wedding gown, while Jackman chose to wear his glasses.
The couple went on to spend almost three decades together. Their marriage included career changes, international fame, family life and two children.
As Jackman became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Furness continued working in the Australian entertainment industry and pursuing causes that were important to her.
Did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness Have Children?
Jackman and Furness adopted two children together.
Their first child, Oscar Maximilian, was adopted in May 2000. Their daughter, Ava Eliot, was adopted in July 2005.
The couple had previously experienced difficulties trying to have biological children and ultimately chose adoption.
Family remained an important part of their public story. Jackman has spoken about wanting his children to understand their privileges and use them to help others.
Both Jackman and Furness generally tried to keep their children away from excessive media attention while occasionally appearing together at public events.
Deborra-Lee Furness’ Acting Career
Furness had already established herself as an actress before she met Jackman.
Her breakout role came in Shame in 1988. She also appeared in films including A Cry in the Dark, Two Brothers Running, The Humpty Dumpty Man, The Last of the Finest, Voyager and Newsies.
Her later credits included Jindabyne, Sleepwalking and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole.
Furness also worked behind the camera. In 2020, she directed three episodes of the Australian soap opera Neighbours.
Her career has therefore covered several areas of entertainment, including acting, directing and producing.
Deborra-Lee Furness and Adoption Advocacy
Adoption has been an important part of Furness’ public work.
She has advocated for children and families involved in adoption, particularly around efforts to make international adoption processes more efficient.
Furness has also been associated with National Adoption Awareness Month in Australia and has worked to raise awareness about children who need permanent families.
Her advocacy is especially personal because she and Jackman adopted both of their children.
This part of her career has helped establish Furness as more than an actress or celebrity spouse. Her work in this area has remained an important part of her public identity.
Why Did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness Separate?
Jackman and Furness announced their separation in September 2023 after almost 30 years of marriage.
In their statement at the time, they said their family would remain their highest priority and described the separation as a decision to pursue individual growth.
The couple asked for privacy as they adjusted to a new chapter in their lives.
The exact reasons behind the end of their marriage have been the subject of considerable public speculation. However, many of those claims have come from media reports and unnamed sources rather than direct confirmation from both former spouses.
Furness later spoke publicly about the emotional experience of navigating the end of their long marriage, but she did not provide a complete public account of every detail behind the separation.
When Was Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness’ Divorce Finalized?
The divorce was finalized in June 2025.
Furness filed for divorce almost two years after the pair announced their separation. The filing came after Jackman’s relationship with actress Sutton Foster had become public.
Reports about the circumstances surrounding the split have generated significant attention, but it is important to separate confirmed facts from claims made by unnamed sources.
The legally confirmed point is that Jackman and Furness ended their marriage after 29 years, with their divorce finalized in June 2025.
Deborra-Lee Furness’ Life After the Marriage
Following the end of her marriage to Jackman, Furness continued to focus on her own life and work.
Her career in entertainment and her adoption advocacy remain central parts of her public identity. She has also continued to speak about personal growth and the challenges of moving forward after a long relationship.
Furness has spent much of her career in Australia and has maintained strong connections with the country’s entertainment community.
Although her marriage to Jackman brought her greater international attention, she had already established herself professionally long before their relationship became a major celebrity story.
Deborra-Lee Furness’ Net Worth
Some celebrity wealth publications have estimated Furness’ net worth at around $70 million. However, this figure is not an official financial disclosure and should be treated as a reported estimate.
Her long career in acting, producing and directing has contributed to her professional profile. Her financial history has also attracted attention because of her former marriage to Jackman and reports concerning the division of their assets following their separation.
Exact personal financial figures are not publicly established, so online net worth estimates should be viewed cautiously.
Deborra-Lee Furness’ Story Beyond Hugh Jackman
Deborra-Lee Furness’ life story is closely linked with Hugh Jackman because their marriage lasted almost three decades. Still, her career and advocacy work stand on their own.
She was an established Australian actress when she met Jackman in 1995. Over the years, she continued acting while also exploring directing and other areas of the entertainment industry.
Her work supporting adoption has been another major part of her public life. She became an advocate for children and families and helped bring greater attention to adoption issues in Australia.
Today, Furness is best understood not simply as Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife, but as an Australian actress, filmmaker, mother and adoption advocate with a career spanning several decades.
Her marriage to Jackman was a major chapter of her life, but it was only one part of a much longer story that began in Australian entertainment and continues through her professional and advocacy work.