“At the beginning of our relationship”: Hugh Jackman Almost Lost His Ex Deborra-lee Furness to an Iconic Singer Before She Flipped The Script and Chose Him Instead

Actor Hugh Jackman recently appeared as his fan-favorite character Wolverine in Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine alongside best friend Ryan Reynolds. The actor announced his separation from his now ex-wife, Deborra-lee Furness, after 27 years of marriage in September 2023. Jackman and Furness were regarded as one of the most beloved couples in the industry, and share a son, Oscar, and a daughter, Ava.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness shared in their joint statement that their journey is now shifting and they have decided to pursue their individual growth. However, fans cannot stop gushing over a resurfaced clip of the two of them where Jackman revealed that Furness turned down an icon to be with him.

Deborra-lee Furness picked Hugh Jackman over The Rolling Stones‘ singer Mick Jagger

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness met on the sets of Correlli in 1995, when Furness was not only 13 years older than the actor but also a big star at the time. Correlli was Jackman’s first out-of-the-drama school role, and he mentioned that they had an immediate connection. He said,

Deb and I were already best friends, and I realized I’ve got a crush on my leading lady. This is the thing you do not do. It’s unprofessional and embarrassing.

According to People, Jackman tried to avoid the actress for a week to get his feelings in place, but when it didn’t work, he told her that he had a crush on her and it’d go away. The actor, however, adds that he didn’t expect her to tell him that she had a crush on him too. The two of them tried to hide their relationship initially, but eventually, everyone on the set knew.

During an appearance on This is Your Life. Picture: Channel 9, Jackman revealed that he had a dinner party at his place where he invited Furness and 12 other people. He continued that halfway through the dinner, the actress got a call from her friend, who told her that she was in a limousine with Mick Jagger outside the actor’s house, adding that Jagger wanted to party with Furness too.

Deadpool & Wolverine actor further shared that he insisted the actress join Mick Jagger, but,

She told her friend, ‘You tell Mick Jagger, I’m having dinner with Hugh Jackman’. And that was the very night, the beginning of our relationship.

Jackman shared the story once again during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and admitted that a part of him was thrilled, but a part of him thought she should have gone with Mick Jagger instead.

In 1996, at a church outside of Melbourne, Australia, the two of them got married and 27 years later, they announced their separation. which fans found very surprising. The Things, however, noted that COVID had put a lot of strain on their marriage. Back in May 2024, the actress spoke to People Magazine following her split from the actor and shared,

I learned that I’m strong and resilient. And that I—we are all a constant evolution.

Deborra-lee Furness appeared in Force of Nature: The Dry 2 and noted that she enjoys playing a strong female lead in her projects. The actress added that she loves portraying female characters on-screen that are great role models for younger girls.

Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool takes a jab at Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Garner’s divorce

Jackman returned after seven years to play the role of Wolverine in Marvel Studios’ first R-rated movie, Deadpool & Wolverine with Ryan Reynolds. The Canadian actor in one scene in the movie takes a jab at Jackman’s divorce from now ex-wife Deborra-lee Furness, as he says,

He’s usually shirtless, but he let himself go since the divorce.

Director Shawn Levy spoke to Variety and addressed the divorce jokes said in the movie by stating that they never made a joke about anyone before running it by them. He pointed out that whether the jokes were scripted or unscripted, they made sure that everyone was comfortable with them. The movie also took a jab at Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s divorce.

In the movie, when Garner appears as Elektra, Deadpool offers condolences for the death of Daredevil, the character who was played by Ben Affleck in 2003’s Daredevil. To this, she responds by saying ‘it’s fine’.

The filmmaker further added that those dialogues wouldn’t be in the movie if Jackman and Garner didn’t think they were funny. He added that he and Reynolds would always run the lines by performers and make sure everyone felt comfortable with the jokes, and clarified that they were never punching down. The filmmaker mentioned all the jokes in the movie were said in a playful spirit.

Deadpool & Wolverine is playing in cinemas.