Hugh Jackman’s alleged romance with Sutton Foster 'reason' for his divorce from ex Deborra-Lee Furness
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hugh Jackman’s personal life has taken center stage once again, with new revelations suggesting that his romance with Broadway co-star Sutton Foster may have played a pivotal role in his separation from wife Deborra-Lee Furness.
On October 26, gossip blogger Tasha Lustig posted a bombshell on Instagram, claiming Jackman had “blindsided” his ex by “running off with the mistress.”
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Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster's romance played key role in his divorce, claims source
Lustig’s post, which showed Jackman and Foster looking cozy on a red carpet, hinted at a secret relationship between the pair, which reportedly began while they were still married to other people.
The gossip quickly gained traction, with Furness “liking” the post from her private Instagram account. Her close friend, British media personality Amanda de Cadenet, also commented, “My beloved friend Deb is about to have her glow up any moment fyi!”
Sources confirmed to Us Weekly that Jackman, 56, and Foster, 49, are indeed in a relationship, which began while they were starring together in the 2022 Broadway revival of 'The Music Man'. Their connection reportedly started as a close friendship during the show’s 11-month run, which evolved into something more romantic while both actors were still married to other people.
Jackman and Furness announced their split in September 2023, while Foster filed for divorce from her husband, screenwriter Ted Griffin, just a month later.
An insider shared, “Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb got divorced.”
The source added that while the affair remained under wraps, many within the Broadway community were aware of it, but respected the couple’s privacy. "They are really happy now," the insider confirmed, noting that Jackman and Foster are still going strong in their newfound relationship.
Hugh Jackman’s longstanding friendship with Sutton Foster blossomed into secret affair
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, both Broadway veterans, have shared a long history in the theater world, and their deep connection on the 'The Music Man' stage turned into romance.
The pair, who had been friends for years, sparked rumors of a secret relationship after they were cast together in the 2022 revival of the classic musical. Jackman had previously expressed admiration for Foster, once joking during a late-night appearance that he had “watched everything she’s done,” including her Tony-winning performance in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' when she was just 27. He called her “amazing.”
Their bond quickly blossomed into a close friendship during the 'Music Man' run, and the two even spent family time together, both having children from previous relationships.
In a 2022 Vogue interview, Foster said that Jackman had become one of her closest friends, revealing that they had even spent Memorial Day together with their families.
The actor also shared a heartwarming detail about their backstage ritual, sitting on the floor of her dressing room before every show to catch up and bond.
While Jackman and Foster’s bond became public knowledge within Broadway circles, Jackman’s wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, was reportedly blindsided by the affair. It was said to be an open secret among Broadway insiders.
An industry source revealed that Jackman never confessed to the affair, and Furness learned about it later despite witnessing the intimacy between Jackman and Foster on stage.
“It was apparently Broadway’s worst-kept secret,” the source added, noting that Furness was the last to know.
For many years, Jackman and Furness were seen as one of Hollywood’s most endearing couples. The former couple met in the late '90s while working on the Australian TV series 'Correlli', and Jackman was smitten from the start.
