Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster's romance sparked his divorce: Source (excl.)

On October 26th, gossip bloggers Tasha Lustig I spilled a lot of tea on this Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster on her Instagram account. “Remember when I told you that this man was up to no good,” the content creator asked as she pointed to a photo of him Music man Co-stars looking in love on a red carpet. Lustig continued that Jackman “blindsided” his ex-wife. Deborra Lee Furnessby “running away with the mistress” and that the Broadway stars planned to “gently go public” with their relationship.

The interesting post quickly gained a lot of viewers – including Furness, who “liked” it on her private account (visible only to people she follows on the platform), along with over 25,000 others and Furness' close friend, a British media personality Amanda de Cadenetwho wrote: “You’re right. My darling friend Deb will be making her shine any moment, FYI!”

Social media activity appeared to confirm rumors of a secret romance between Jackman, 56, and Foster, 49, who starred together in the 2022 Broadway revival. (Jackman and ex-Furness announced their separation in September 2023; Foster filed for divorce from the screenwriter Ted Griffin on October 25.) Sources confirm this in the latest issue of Us weekly that Jackman and Foster are currently together – and that their friendship became romantic during the show's 11-month run while they were married to other people.

“Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason for Hugh and Deb’s divorce,” says a Foster source. “A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it a secret because they're both such nice and great people. Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap.” According to the source, Jackman and Foster are still doing well: “They are really happy now.”

Instant connection

Jackman and Foster have moved in the same Broadway circles for years. During a late-night appearance, Jackman revealed that he had “watched everything she did” and joked that he had seen Foster in the lead role Thoroughly modern Millie when she “approx. 4 years old”. (Foster won a Tony for her performance in 2002, when she was 27). Jackman enthused: “[She’s] great.”

They hit it off immediately after throwing in The Music Man. In 2022, Foster said fashion Jackman had become one of her closest friends – and noted that they even hosted family gatherings. (Jackman and Furness, 68, adopted 24-year-old Oscar in 2000 and 19-year-old daughter Ava in 2005; Foster and Griffin are parents to Emily, 7, whom they adopted in 2017.) “Usually you deal with these things and thinks, “Well, I hope we get along,” she explained, “but we just spent Memorial Day with our families.”

Foster also revealed that she and Jackman had established an intimate ritual where they would sit on the floor of their dressing room and chat before every show. “It's such a wonderful thing,” Foster said during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan. “We just talk and discuss our day. “That was one of the best parts of the whole thing,” she added, “that I found this wonderful new friend.”

Related: Timeline of Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness' relationship

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness were together for more than two decades before going their separate ways. Jackman and Furness began a relationship shortly after meeting on the set of the Australian television series Correlli in 1995. “Deb, she was a big star,” he recalled to Jess Cagle in 2017. “I’m being picked up [to […]

During rehearsals, they often posted cute photos and videos on Instagram gushing about each other. “This show is nothing without you,” Jackman wrote alongside a clip of them practicing a dance. On opening night, Foster shared pictures of her and Jackman on the red carpet with the caption: “This man. It's an honor to be by your side. You. Are. The. PREFERABLY.”

Furness had no idea – even after watching her then-husband and Foster kiss passionately on stage night after night. “Deborra-lee was surprised to learn about the affair during the course of the show,” says an industry source. “It was apparently Broadway’s worst-kept secret, and Deborra-lee was the last to know.” Us has learned that Jackman never openly confessed the affair. “He hasn’t admitted it,” the industry source adds. Furness wanted to save the marriage, but Jackman's relationship with Foster remained.

Painful betrayal

For decades, Jackman and Furness seemed to be one of Hollywood's most solid couples. The wolverine Star fell in love with Furness when they starred in the Australian series Correlli together. (Like Foster, Furness was his leading lady.) Just five months after meeting, Jackman popped the question. “Two weeks after I met Deb, I knew we would be together for the rest of our lives,” he once admitted.

During a talk show appearance in 2016, Jackman said that his marriage “gets better and better” as time goes on, adding, “She's the best thing that's ever happened to me.” The actor noted that he was grateful to have met her before he became famous in the early 2000s. “Everything that has happened in my career, on and off screen, we have always done together.”

In April 2023, Jackman celebrated his 27th wedding anniversary with a gushing post directed at Furness. “Together we have created a beautiful family. And life,” he wrote. “Your laughter, your spirit, your generosity, your humor, your sass, your courage and your loyalty are an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart.”

Related: Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness split after 27 years of marriage

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have split after more than two decades of marriage, Us Weekly can confirm. “We were fortunate to spend nearly three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey is now changing and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.” […]

While one source notes that Jackman and Foster's affair had already begun at that point, another source says they first heard of a romance between the two last November, two months after the actor announced his marriage is over. “We have been fortunate to spend nearly three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness said in a statement at the time. “Our journey is now changing and we have decided to separate to further our individual growth.”

A friend of the couple says Us Furness was heartbroken. “[For a] Woman who is already married [27] “When she finds out years later that her partner has been unfaithful and untrustworthy, it's a pretty devastating life experience,” the friend says, noting that Furness has been extremely gracious behind the scenes to protect her family. “I think a lot of people were shocked [Hugh] “I could do that to her, especially since she is the mother of his children and they have managed three decades of life together,” the friend says. “A little respect might have been in order.” A source familiar with Furness says she is a survivor: “[Deborra-lee] is a strong, resilient, creative woman.”

What's next?

As far as Jackman and Foster are concerned, things are moving forward. “They don’t live together because of their children,” says a theater source. “But Sutton told people on Broadway about the relationship. All [there] “I've known about this for a long time.” A resident of Sutton's New York building has told other neighbors that he saw Jackman, who also lives in the city, coming and going.

According to Foster's source, Jackman knows his reputation is at stake. “Hugh's overall image is that he's the nicest guy in Hollywood,” the source explains. “So he doesn’t know what to do with it.”

To find out more about Hugh and Sutton, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us weekly – now at the kiosk.