Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster have been one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples since their relationship was confirmed last year.
However, the Marvel star’s ex-wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, is reportedly not convinced that their love story will have a fairy-tale ending, as she casts doubt on the longevity of their relationship.
The claim comes as Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster continue to publicly display affection for each other, showing no signs of slowing down in their romance.
Reports have surfaced claiming that Furness isn’t particularly impressed with Jackman and Foster’s public show of love. The 70-year-old reportedly doesn’t believe the gestures are evidence of a genuine romance between the couple.
According to Globe Magazine, a source revealed that Furness sees the Broadway star as being “all about the cameras and putting on a show.”
She doesn’t buy into his “performative” displays of intimacy and believes the relationship is not some destined pairing that would last for eternity.
“She doesn’t see these big public displays as any sort of evidence that he’s madly in love. She says it’s just Hugh doing his usual over-the-top performative schtick,” the source notes.
The insider added that, “it’s going to take more than Hugh and Sutton singing love ballads to each other for her to believe this is the real deal or some match made in heaven that’s going to last forever.”
Deborra-Lee Furness And Hugh Jackman Were Married For Nearly Three Decades
Furness’ reported skepticism regarding the authenticity of Jackman and Foster’s relationship is given weight by her decades of experience with the actor.
The former couple was married for 27 years before they announced their separation in 2023 with a short statement, before officially divorcing in 2025.
Jackman and Furness first met as co-stars on the set of the Australian TV show Corelli in 1995, shortly after Jackman had left drama school.
According to People Magazine, the “The Greatest Showman” actor said, “I knew two weeks into meeting Deb that we were going to be together for the rest of our lives.” They eventually got married within a year of their meeting on April 11, 1996.
The pair would later adopt their son Oscar Maximilian in 2000 and daughter Ava Eliot in 2005 after struggling with miscarriages and IVF.
Writing on Twitter (now X), the actor called his ex-wife his “greatest gift.” He said at the time, “I believe in life we need to see and truly be seen by the most important people in our lives. Deb, from day one, we had that.”
He continued to say that “it only gets deeper. You and the kids are the greatest gift I will ever receive. I love you a gazillion times around the world.”
The Actor And Sutton Foster’s Public Displays Of Affection
Jackman and Foster’s romance has been marked by increasingly public displays of affection. They reportedly hit it off after they were cast in “The Music Man,” with sources claiming that the couple was already romantically involved around this time.
Regarding the affair rumors, an insider told Us Weekly in 2024 that “a lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it quiet because both of them are so nice and great people.”
“Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap,” the source added.
Their romance was finally confirmed in January 2025 when they were photographed holding hands at a dinner outing in Santa Monica.
The Couple Faced Backlash After Kissing During A Joint Performance
The relationship would become “Instagram Official” on November 25 when the actor shared a video of Foster performing at New York’s Café Carlyle, calling her “truly magical.”
On August 3, 2026, the couple performed a surprise duet of “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman” at a benefit gala in Ogunquit, Maine, which ended in an on-stage kiss.
The performance drew sharp criticism on social media for being “cringey,” with one commenter writing, per News 24, “This is beyond off-putting for both of them.”
Another said, “It’s not easy to watch,” and lamented the actor’s decision to end his 27-year marriage. Others called it “horrendous” and “off-key”. Some comments were warmer, with one fan saying, “Love them together. Life is short, people. They look happier than I see most couples.”
What Happens Next For Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster
Jackman and Foster now face questions on whether their relationship can survive the allegations of an affair before ending their marriages and establishing a genuine love that can stand the test of time.
Furness reportedly believes that their relationship isn’t built to last as Foster “has her work cut out for her” because of how supposedly difficult it is to live with Jackman.
Other accounts, however, have described the couple as being “madly in love”, and it has been noted that they spend a significant amount of time together.
Currently, the couple has not shown any sign that they intend to end their romance anytime soon.
