Deborra-Lee Furness is entering her ‘man-free zone’ as she embraces a new chapter of life following her split from Hugh Jackman.
The Aussie actress, 69, has been spotted living it up in New York with a tight-knit group of girlfriends, prioritising female friendships over dating.
According to New Idea, the mother of two has made it clear this period of her life is ‘strictly women only’ as she continues her ‘year of evolution’ following her marriage breakdown.
Furness appeared relaxed and carefree during a recent stroll through Manhattan with longtime friend and artistic collaborator Sarah Sze, walking arm-in-arm as the pair chatted and laughed.
It was one of many outings that sources say have helped her rebuild after what she reportedly found to be a ‘traumatic’ end to her marriage in 2023.
She has also been stepping out at A-list events across New York.
Deborra–Lee Furness (pictured) is entering her ‘man–free zone’ as she embraces a new chapter of life following her split from Hugh JackmanÂ
The Aussie actress, 69, has been spotted living it up in New York with a tight–knit group of girlfriends, prioritising female friendships over dating. (Pictured L–R: Sarah Sze and Chloe Melas)
Furness recently attended the All Her Fault premiere alongside friend and chef Mikaela Reuben, and later joined a screening where she spent time with Sting’s daughter, Mickey Sumner.
The actress told New Idea that she has been leaning deeply into her female support system, saying, ‘I say this to all women – your girlfriends are a necessity in life.’
While Jackman, 57, has moved on socially with Broadway star Sutton Foster, Furness is reportedly in no rush to return to the dating world.
A source revealed to Daily Mail that Furness ‘has gotten offers to go out and honestly, she is just not interested in this right now’.
Despite the offers and her friends trying to set her up, the insider said dating ‘is just not for her’ at the moment.
‘For decades, Deborra-Lee was certain that she had found her life-long companion,’ the source continued, adding that the actress ‘never thought in a million years that she would be here, at this stage in her life, single’.Â
Instead, friends say Furness is finding joy, confidence and stability within her inner circle and focusing on rediscovering her independence.
Furness and Jackman met in 1995 on Australian TV show Correlli, when she was a major star and he was enjoying his first role fresh out of drama school.
According to New Idea, the mother of two has made it clear this period of her life is ‘strictly women only’ as she continues her ‘year of evolution’ following her marriage breakdownÂ
It was one of many outings that sources say have helped her rebuild after what she reportedly found to be a ‘traumatic’ end to her marriage in 2023. (Deborah pictured with Hugh in 2022)
He proposed four months later, telling Today in 2018 that he knew two weeks into meeting Furness that they were ‘going to be together for the rest of our lives.’
The insider disclosed that while Furness is not ‘jaded by men, she is taking the time to heal and she has turned down dates from some incredible guys.’
‘She knows what she brings to the table,’ the source confirmed about the Aussie producer. ‘Once the dust settles on this divorce, she will be open to dating again.’
Furness and Jackman’s 27-year marriage started to fall apart during Covid, around the same time that Jackman struck up a friendship with Foster, his co-star on the 2022 Broadway revival of The Music Man.Â
Foster was married to Ted Griffin at the time (Griffin and Foster are also in the midst of finalising their divorce).
Furness and Jackman announced the end of their marriage in a statement in September 2023, telling fans that they were ‘shifting’ and as a result had decided to ‘separate to pursue our individual growth.’Â
Jackman began dating actress Sutton Foster in January 2024
