Nicole Kidman torn between her pals Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness amid their ‘messy’ separation
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Nicole Kidman owes much of her Hollywood journey to the unwavering support of her close friends, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness.
But now, Kidman finds herself navigating the complex dynamics of her years-long friendship with both of them after the iconic couple called it quits after 27 years of marriage, Daily Mail reported.
Nicole Kidman reflects on Deborra-Lee Furness’ friendship during early LA days
For Nicole Kidman, Deborra-Lee Furness was more than a friend; she was a lifeline during her early days in Los Angeles.
"[I slept on the couch] in the house that Deborra-Lee was renting, and she gave the chance to stay there and we could go and audition," Kidman told the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in a recorded interview.
She further stated, "It was expensive, we couldn't afford hotels, so the idea of being in hub out of a house together, was really, I mean, my god."
'The Perfect Couple' actress added, "You'd go and come back and you'd go over for a few weeks and do some auditions and hope to crack it."
"[Deborra-Lee] was one of my best friends," she said, adding that Furness gave her a place to stay when she flew in from Australia.
This shared bond extended to Furness’ husband, Jackman, with whom Kidman starred in Baz Luhrmann’s 'Australia'.
Together, they formed a steadfast support system, particularly during Kidman’s painful divorce from Tom Cruise in 2001.
“When I got divorced, Hugh and Deb were so much a part of my healing,” she shared in a candid interview with Australian Women's Weekly, highlighting their role as her pillars during a tumultuous period.
"They were some of my best friends through that period," she added.
Kidman later found love in Keith Urban and is happily married to him.
Nicole Kidman’s loyalty lies with Deborra-Lee Furness
An insider close to Nicole Kidman claims her focus is firmly on supporting Deborra-Lee Furness in this difficult time of her life.
“Nicole knows Hugh is going to be fine—he has the best team of handlers in Hollywood and he’s in the throes of his new romance,” the source said.
“For Nicole, the focus is on Deb, and she’s worried about her more than anything else," they added.
Furness, who has reportedly struggled with resentment and an imbalance of power in her marriage, now faces her “worst nightmare” of losing Jackman to a younger actress.
The source adds, “Nicole is determined to get [Deb] through what really is an emotionally traumatic time," ready to jump in at "any time."
"Deb puts on a tough front but losing Hugh to a younger actress is her worst nightmare come true," the insider revealed, adding that Furness "expects" Kidman will continue supporting Jackman as well.
Kidman is no stranger to navigating high-profile splits within her circle.
She has previously maintained friendships with both Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber after their breakup.
Hugh Jackman’s new romance stirs the waters amid his 'messy' split
The narrative has shifted dramatically since Hugh Jackman, 56, confirmed his relationship with Broadway co-star Sutton Foster, 46.
Their PDA-filled outings add a new layer of tension to an already complicated split between the 'Deadpool & Wolverine' star and Furness.
Jackman and Furness, 69, announced their split in 2023 to “pursue individual growth,” but the process has been anything but smooth.
Insiders reveal that the lack of a prenuptial agreement has complicated the division of their estimated $250 million fortune, potentially making their divorce “messy".
Their shared properties, including a $21 million Manhattan penthouse and a $5.9 million Bondi beach house, further complicate matters.
Reportedly, the couple was scheduled to file for divorce before 2024 Christmas. However, an insider close to Jackman told Daily Mail exclusively, "One of the biggest reasons why they haven’t yet filed is that they never had a prenup."
"When they got married, they thought it would be forever. Who doesn’t? At the time, neither of them expected Hugh’s career to get as enormous as it has," the insider added.
"Because there was no prenup, and he made a fortune during their marriage, this divorce is not going to be cut and dry. It may even get messy because the stakes are high. A lot of moving parts need to be worked out and there is a huge amount of money involved," they said.
The insider insisted both Jackman and Furness want to "make this as easy as possible", but that after three decades and one partner becoming a massive A-list star, "it’s not quite that easy".
While Jackman’s relationship with Furness has become strained, insiders insist both are prioritizing co-parenting their two children, Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19.
