In her first statement since the split, Deborra-Lee Furness reflects on healing, gratitude, and navigating life’s lessons.
Australian actress and producer Deborra-Lee Furness has spoken out for the first time since filing for divorce from her longtime husband, Hugh Jackman. In a heartfelt statement shared with the Daily Mail on Tuesday, May 27, Furness, 69, opened up about the challenges of their separation and the journey of self-healing that followed.
“My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,” Furness shared candidly. She described the end of their 27-year marriage as “a profound wound that cuts deep,” but added that her faith in a higher power and the universe has helped guide her through the painful transition.
“Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose,” she said. “It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values, and boundaries is liberation and freedom.”
Furness emphasized that she’s found wisdom and clarity through the experience, noting that one of her biggest realizations was that “none of this is personal.”
“We are all on our individual journeys and I believe that the relationships in our lives are not random. We are drawn to people… in order to learn our lessons and to recognize and heal the broken parts of ourselves,” she concluded. “I remain grateful.”
Furness and Jackman, 56, married in 1996 and announced their amicable separation in September 2023 after nearly three decades together. In their statement shared with PEOPLE at the time, they wrote, “Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”
The couple shares two children, Oscar and Ava. Their divorce filings indicate an uncontested split that only needs judicial approval.
Meanwhile, Jackman was spotted in January holding hands with his former Music Man co-star, Sutton Foster, during a casual dinner in Santa Monica, Calif. Foster, 50, filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, Ted Griffin, in October 2024.
When asked about Jackman at the 2024 Drama Desk Awards, Foster called him “one of the greatest guys ever” and an “incredible costar,” highlighting their close friendship during their time on stage.
While fans continue to process the end of an iconic Hollywood marriage, Furness’s message of healing and gratitude offers an inspiring reminder that even in heartbreak, growth and purpose can be found.