Hugh Jackman ex wife is Deborra-Lee Furness, an Australian actress, producer and adoption advocate born on November 30, 1955 in Sydney, Australia.
Hugh Jackman is the Australian star best known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men films. He also led The Greatest Showman and Les Misérables, and he returned as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine. Furness was his wife for 27 years, and for most of that time the two were seen as one of Hollywood’s most lasting couples.
In this guide you will learn who Deborra-Lee is, what she has achieved in her career, and how the two met on a TV set. You will also read about their wedding, their two children, and how their marriage ended. We finish with her social media presence, a quick facts table and answers to the questions people ask most.
Who Is Hugh Jackman’s Ex-Wife, Deborra-Lee Furness?
Deborra-Lee Furness was born on November 30, 1955, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She is Australian by nationality. As of October 2026, she is 70 years old.
She grew up in Sydney and was drawn to acting at a young age. In the late 1970s and 1980s she built a name in Australian film and television. At the time she met Jackman, she was already an established actress with years of screen work behind her. Jackman was a young actor just starting out, and she was about 13 years older than him.
Furness has kept most details of her childhood and family private. Public records about her school and formal training are limited, so we only share what is well documented. What is clear is that she learned her craft on Australian sets and stages. She then used the same determination to push for causes she cared about.
Today she is known for more than her marriage. She is an actress, a producer and a respected voice for adoption and children’s rights. Many people who search for Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife are surprised by how much she achieved on her own.
Deborra-Lee Furness: Career and Professional Life
Furness started her screen career in Australia and became a familiar face in local film and television. One of her best-known early films is Shame (1988), a drama about violence and justice in a small Australian town. She also appeared in Jindabyne (2006), a drama based on a short story by Raymond Carver. She worked in many other Australian projects over the years.
Her most important role in her love story was on television. She starred in the ABC series Correlli in 1995. That is where she met Hugh Jackman.
Behind the camera, Furness co-founded the production company Seed Productions with Jackman. The company develops film and TV projects, and she has worked as a producer.
Her biggest public mission is adoption. Furness and Jackman adopted both of their children, and she turned that experience into advocacy. She has worked with adoption groups, spoken at public events and pushed for easier, more caring adoption systems. She is an Ambassador for National Adoption Awareness Month and has been honored as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her service.
As for net worth, there is no confirmed public figure for Furness on her own. Some websites quote large numbers tied to the couple’s combined wealth, but these are estimates and not verified. Reports said she would receive spousal support under the divorce, but the exact terms were never officially published.
How Did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness Meet?
The story of Hugh Jackman and his ex-wife starts in 1995 on the set of Correlli, an Australian TV series. Jackman was in his mid-twenties and had just finished drama school. Furness was already a well-known actress. They worked together on the show, and a friendship soon turned into romance.
The age gap drew attention then and later. Jackman has often joked about how quickly he knew she was special. Their romance moved fast. The two were engaged within months of meeting and spent time out of the spotlight, away from Hollywood noise.
Friends described them as warm, funny and very close. They were also a team in their careers. As Jackman’s fame grew in the early 2000s, Furness stayed by his side. She supported his move into Hollywood and the big role of Wolverine in 2000.
Their early years show why their later split shocked so many fans. The couple had spent almost three decades building a life together, from a TV set in Australia to red carpets around the world.
Hugh Jackman Ex-Wife Marriage and Wedding Details
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness married in 1996, less than a year after they met. The wedding took place in Australia, and by most accounts it was a private, close-knit celebration. They kept the details modest compared with the grand weddings of many film stars.
The couple stayed married for 27 years. During that time, they became known for showing affection in public. They often walked red carpets hand in hand and spoke warmly about each other in interviews. Jackman frequently called his wife his rock and credited her with keeping him grounded during his rise to fame.
In September 2023, the pair announced that they were separating. They said their “journey now is shifting” and described the decision as a loving one. They asked for privacy and said they would keep working as a family.
In May 2025, Furness filed for divorce in New York. Reports said the terms were uncontested. Court records showed the divorce was finalized in June 2025, about one month after filing. Furness also made a public statement about a “journey of betrayal,” which drew wide media attention. Jackman has since been linked to actress Sutton Foster.
Children and Family Life of Jackman and His Ex-Wife
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have two adopted children. Their son, Oscar Maximilian Jackman, was born in 2000. Their daughter, Ava Eliot Jackman, was born in 2005. As of 2026, Oscar is in his mid-twenties and Ava is in her early twenties, so both are adults.
Adoption was a central part of the family story. Furness has spoken openly about her wish to help children find loving homes. She and Jackman raised their kids largely in New York, with time spent in Australia.
The family lived a fairly private life despite Jackman’s fame. They often tried to keep the children away from cameras while they were young. Jackman has said many times that family comes first and that his wife shaped how they raised their kids.
After the separation, both parents said they remained committed to their children. Reports describe a co-parenting arrangement that focuses on Oscar and Ava. Neither parent has shared many details, and fans should respect the family’s space as the children are now adults.
Hugh Jackman’s Ex-Wife on Social Media
Deborra-Lee Furness has an Instagram presence, but she is far less active than many celebrities. Her posts tend to focus on causes she supports, such as adoption and children’s welfare. She also shares family moments and photos from events she attends. Follower counts change often, so check her official profile for the latest number.
Furness is not known for daily posting, selfies or influencer-style content. Her feed reads more like a personal and advocacy account. During and after the divorce, her public statements got far more attention than her regular posts.
Be careful with fan accounts that claim to be her. Always look for the verified profile before you trust any message or follow any account that claims to speak for her.
Quick Facts: Hugh Jackman Ex-Wife Deborra-Lee Furness
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Deborra-Lee Furness, AO |
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1955 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Profession | Actress, producer, adoption advocate |
| Married to | Hugh Jackman (1996–2025) |
| Marriage Year | 1996 |
| Children | 2 adopted children: Oscar (b. 2000) and Ava (b. 2005) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
FAQ: Hugh Jackman Ex-Wife
Q: What is Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife’s name?
A: Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife is Deborra-Lee Furness, an Australian actress and producer.
They were married for 27 years before their divorce was finalized in June 2025.
Q: How old is Deborra-Lee Furness?
A: Deborra-Lee Furness was born on November 30, 1955.
As of October 2026, she is 70 years old.
Q: What does Deborra-Lee Furness do for a living?
A: She is an actress, producer and adoption advocate.
She also co-founded the production company Seed Productions with Hugh Jackman.
Q: When did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness get married?
A: They married in 1996, after meeting on the set of Correlli in 1995.
They announced their separation in September 2023 and finalized the divorce in June 2025.
Q: How many kids do Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have?
A: They have two adopted children, a son named Oscar and a daughter named Ava.
Both children are now adults.
Conclusion
Hugh Jackman ex wife Deborra-Lee Furness is far more than the woman who stood beside a movie star. She is an accomplished Australian actress, a producer and a long-time voice for adoption. She met Jackman on a TV set in 1995, married him in 1996, and raised two children with him over nearly three decades.
Their marriage ended in a public and painful way, but the family story still carries much that is positive. Two grown children, a lasting legacy of advocacy and a love that began on an Australian set will remain part of both of their lives. We wish both Hugh and Deborra-Lee well as they move forward.
