Hugh Jackman and wife was Deborra-Lee Furness, an Australian actress and producer born on November 30, 1955, in Annandale, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Jackman, the Tony- and Golden Globe-winning star best known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, was married to Furness for 27 years before the couple announced their separation in September 2023.
Their divorce was officially finalized in June 2025. This article covers who Deborra-Lee Furness is, her career, how she and Hugh Jackman met, their marriage, their family, and what she is doing today — everything you need to know about Hugh Jackman and his former wife.
Who Is Deborra-Lee Furness?
Deborra-Lee Furness is an Australian actress, producer, and director. She was born on November 30, 1955, in Annandale, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, and was raised in Melbourne, Victoria. Her mother, Fay Duncan, was a charity campaigner who encouraged Furness to have a fallback career; at 18, Furness attended secretarial school to learn shorthand and typing in case acting didn’t work out.
Furness got her start in television, working as an assistant to a Channel 9 news director before moving into reporting on the current-affairs program “No Man‘s Land.” Her early on-screen roles included small parts in the Australian soap opera “The Box” and the series “Division 4” in the mid-1970s. To sharpen her acting skills, she moved to New York City and trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in the early 1980s. She then returned to Australia, where she built a long-running career on both film and television, eventually becoming one of the country’s most recognized actresses.
Deborra-Lee Furness’s Career and Professional Life
Furness has worked across acting, producing, and directing for more than four decades. Her breakout role came in the 1988 film “Shame,” a role that earned her critical acclaim and multiple Australian acting awards. She went on to appear in films such as “Angel Baby,” “Jindabyne,” and the animated feature “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole,” along with television credits including “Falcon Crest” and “Neighbours.”
Beyond acting, Furness moved into producing, working on projects tied to Australian film and stage productions. She is also widely known for her humanitarian work, particularly around international adoption reform. She co-founded National Adoption Awareness Week and has served as an ambassador for World Vision International, using her public platform to push for simplified international adoption laws in Australia. In 2022, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of that advocacy work. Her career and business interests have contributed to an estimated net worth in the tens of millions of dollars, built independently of her marriage to Jackman.
How Did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness Meet?
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness met in 1995 on the set of the Australian television drama “Correlli,” where Jackman had landed one of his first major roles shortly after leaving drama school. Furness was already an established actress at the time, and the two developed a fast connection while filming together. Jackman has said in past interviews that he felt an immediate bond with her.
Their relationship moved quickly. The couple began dating not long after meeting on set, and within about a year, they were engaged. Given how private the early stages of their courtship were, exact details of the proposal were never widely publicized, but the couple has spoken over the years about how quickly they knew they wanted to build a life together, despite Furness being several years older than Jackman.
Marriage and Wedding Details
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness married on April 11, 1996, in a small ceremony in Melbourne, Australia. At the time, Jackman was 27 and Furness was 40. The wedding took place before Jackman’s career took off internationally — his breakout role as Wolverine in “X-Men” wouldn’t come until 2000 — so the couple built their relationship largely outside the spotlight in its earliest years.
Over the following decades, the pair became known in Hollywood for their public displays of affection and long-lasting bond, frequently walking red carpets together and marking their anniversaries publicly, including a well-known tradition of Jackman sharing tributes to Furness on social media each April.
Children and Family Life
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are parents to two adopted children: son Oscar Maximillian Jackman, born May 15, 2000, and daughter Ava Eliot Jackman, born July 10, 2005. Furness has spoken publicly about experiencing miscarriages before the couple decided to adopt, and both she and Jackman have been outspoken advocates for adoption awareness ever since.
The family largely kept their children out of the public eye while they were growing up, prioritizing a private, stable home life despite Jackman’s global fame. Both children are now adults. Even after their 2023 separation, Jackman and Furness said in their joint statement that they intended to continue prioritizing their family “with gratitude, love, and kindness” as they moved into this next chapter.
Deborra-Lee Furness on Social Media
Deborra-Lee Furness maintains a presence on Instagram, where she shares updates about her advocacy work, causes she supports, and glimpses of her personal life. Her following is modest compared to Jackman’s massive social media audience, reflecting her lower public profile, but her posts tend to focus heavily on adoption awareness, humanitarian causes, and reflections on personal growth, particularly following her and Jackman’s separation and divorce.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Deborra-Lee Furness |
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1955 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Profession | Actress, Producer, Director |
| Married to | Hugh Jackman (1996–2025, divorced) |
| Marriage Year | 1996 |
| Children | 2 (Oscar and Ava, both adopted) |
| Net Worth | Estimated at tens of millions (individual) |
FAQ Section
What is Hugh Jackman’s wife’s name? A: Hugh Jackman’s wife was Deborra-Lee Furness, an Australian actress and producer. The two were married from 1996 until their divorce was finalized in 2025.
How old is Deborra-Lee Furness? A: Deborra-Lee Furness was born on November 30, 1955, making her 70 years old as of 2026. She was born in Annandale, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.
What does Deborra-Lee Furness do for a living? A: Furness is an actress, producer, and director known for films like “Shame” and “Jindabyne.” She is also a well-known humanitarian focused on adoption reform.
When did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness get married? A: They married on April 11, 1996, in Melbourne, Australia, after meeting on the set of the show “Correlli” in 1995.
How many kids do Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have? A: They have two adopted children together: son Oscar, born in 2000, and daughter Ava, born in 2005.
Conclusion
Deborra-Lee Furness is far more than a footnote in Hugh Jackman’s story — she’s an accomplished actress, producer, and adoption advocate with a career and legacy entirely her own. While Hugh Jackman and his wife’s 27-year marriage came to an end with their 2025 divorce, their shared history, family, and individual achievements remain part of the public record. Anyone searching for details on Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra-Lee Furness will find a story of a decades-long partnership, two children, and two separate careers that both left a lasting mark.