Arguably one of the most talented actors in the world, Hugh Jackman is capable of so much more than playing a badass like Wolverine. After all, he truly is a showman for the ages given the fact that he can sing and dance with the best of them. On top of all that stuff, if you have ever seen an interview with Jackman then you will likely know he comes off like a great guy.
Given the fact that Hugh Jackman appears to be the type of guy that anyone would love to have in their life, even if you know nothing about his wife it seems like she must be amazing. Once you learn a little bit about Deborra-Lee Furness, it turns out that she has led a fascinating life. With that in mind, it is time to get to this list of 15 interesting facts about Hugh Jackman’s wife, Deborra-Lee Furness.
15 Age Difference
If there is one thing that virtually everyone knows about Hollywood leading men it is this, many of them have dated or married women who are many, many years younger than them. Breaking that trend, Deborra-Lee Furness is 13 years older than her husband of nearly 24-years Hugh Jackman. That said, during an interview with Katie Couric, Jackman said: “Anyone that knows Deb, literally, I am the old fuddy-duddy of the relationship”.
14 Other Passion
Even though being a professional actor is a dream come true for many, that doesn’t mean that an actor like Deborra-Lee Furness doesn’t have other interests. In fact, she once said “If I wasn't an actress, I'd be a designer. I love interior design and inventing things that are practical but also beautiful - looking at a space and creating magic.”
13 Beginnings
Back in 1995, Deborra-Lee Furness played the lead role in a short-lived Australian TV series called Correlli. Considering the show only lasted 10 episodes, it likely would’ve been forgotten by now if it weren’t for the fact that Hugh Jackman also starred in the series. First introduced while working on the show, Furness and Jackman even shared their first kiss when their characters embraced on camera.
12 Agreement
Considering that most Hollywood couples don’t last, Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman certainly have beaten the odds. According to the parenting book Jackman wrote, the two of them have certain rules that have helped them to last. For example, they both have promised to “look each other in the eye at every crossroads in life” so they can decide what is “good or bad for (their) family”.
11 Perfect Perspective
Even though many people love to build celebrities up, there are just as many folks that enjoy ripping stars apart. For that reason, the internet can be a treacherous place for celebrities that can’t handle being insulted. Fortunately for Deborra-Lee Furness, when the Daily Mail asked her is she reads what people say about her online, she said no because “it’s nothing to do with me”.
10 Long-Lasting
Long before Hugh Jackman landed his breakout role in 2000’s X-Men, Deborra-Lee Furness had already put together an enviable career as an actor. First able to make her TV debut in 1975, Furness has continued to find semi-regular work ever since including several notable roles in films and TV shows.
9 Study Abroad
Born in Perth and raised in Melbourne, Deborra-Lee Furness grew up in Australia. However, when it came time for her to train for her profession of choice, she decided to learn in a foreign land. Opting to study acting in New York City, Furness was accepted into the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
8 Hard Worker
If you have followed Hugh Jackman’s career, then you will likely realize that the man has had an extremely busy schedule for the last couple of decades. Despite that, while talking with Good Housekeeping, Hugh marveled at how tenacious his wife is. “She has two speeds: Stop and Go. She is always, 'Let's do this, let's do that.' And she is very funny, very quick,".
7 Outspoken
Due to the advent of social media, it has become easier than ever for regular folks to push for the changes they want to see in the world. Despite that, some celebrities avoid tackling issues in order to avoid offending any of their fans. When it comes to Deborra-Lee Furness, however, she has always fought for the rights of women and children.
6 Chopped Liver
When Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness first met, she was famous much more famous than him. While she still is beloved by many, especially in her homeland of Australia, there is no debate that he is a much bigger star than her these days. As a result, Jackman once told Oprah he has seen Furness “knocked away, people trying to push her aside”. Due to that treatment, the couple jokes that she has to deal with “chopped liver syndrome”.
5 Mother Of Two
As a couple, Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman decided they wanted to bring up children. After attempting IVF and suffering two miscarriages, which is quite the crushing experience, the couple adopted a pair of children. The loving parents of a boy and girl, their son Oscar joined the family in 2000 and their daughter Ava became a Jackman in 2005.
4 Keeping Things Fresh
Considering the fact that as of this writing Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman have been married for nearly 24 years, their love life easily could have stagnated by now. However, during an interview with Sunrise, Furness jokingly said she “gets to have so many affairs”. Actually a reference to the fact that Jackman has transformed himself for various roles over the years, it seems that has helped to keep their relationship fresh.
3 Child At Heart
As of this writing, Deborra-Lee Furness is 64-years-old and she has led a very full life. Of course, that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a lot to learn and she can’t take her life in new directions if she wants. Speaking about that idea, Furness said: “You know, I'm still deciding what I'm going to be when I grow up.”
2 Return With A Twist
During Deborra-Lee Furness’ lengthy career, she has taken on many roles including a 5 episode stint on the popular Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1985. Amazingly enough, in 2020 it was announced that she would be returning to the show but this time as a director. Set to helm a 3 episode arc that will focus in part on adoption, clearly, the subject matter is close to Furness’ heart.
1 Major Accolade
Earlier in this list, we touched on the fact that Deborra-Lee Furness has worked to help children in need and she is an adoptive parent. The thing that we didn’t touch on at that time is that she has worked for years to “overhaul Australia’s anti-adoption culture and lobby for national adoption law reform”. As a result of all her work in that area, Furness was named the New South Wales Australian of the Year in 2014.
Sources: sheknows, smh, nma, goodhousekeeping, IMDb, heavy