The Australian actor was married to his partner for 27 years, whom he met while filming the series Corelli. Hugh and Deborra-Lee were considered one of the most solid couples in Hollywood, so their announcement in September 2023 that they had decided to divorce came as a shock to many. Rumors began circulating that the reason for the end of their nearly 30-year marriage was Hugh’s Broadway co-star, Sutton Foster, from the show The Music Man, which ran at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York from February 2022 to January 2023.
In January of this year, the Wolverine actor stopped hiding his romance with 49-year-old Foster, and they were spotted sharing passionate kisses on dates in Los Angeles. However, Hugh’s ex-wife is convinced that this is just a fleeting affair. “Deborra doesn’t think the relationship with Sutton will last long because she knows Hugh better than anyone else. She is sure this romance will end in about a year,” an insider shared.
Furness believes that the Oscar-nominated actor was simply tired of the monotony of his long marriage and sought new emotions. “Debs can recognize a midlife crisis from a mile away. Hugh needs someone, he’ll cry on Sutton’s shoulder, and she’ll try to help him solve his problems. But he won’t give Foster space, and that’s just one of the reasons this won’t work. You don’t have to be Einstein to realize Hugh is infatuated, but Debs tells her friends this won’t last. The passion and novelty of this once-secret romance will fade with the hormones of love.”
Hugh and Deborra have two adopted children, 24-year-old Oscar and 19-year-old Ava Elliot, whom they raised after Deborra had several miscarriages. The Golden Globe winner has yet to finalize his divorce from Furness. Many worry the divorce may be messy, as the couple didn’t have a prenuptial agreement, and they will need to split a fortune estimated at $250 million.
“Since there was no prenuptial agreement, and Hugh built his fortune during their marriage, this divorce won’t be simple or painless. It could even become complicated because the stakes are high. A lot of details need to be worked out, and it will require huge costs,” said sources close to the actor.
