Love is in the air for Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, despite doubt on the sidelines from ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness.
The couple, who were first romantically linked in October last year, are said to be ‘madly in love’, according to US Weekly.
‘They’re not officially living together but spending a lot of time together,’ an insider told the publication, adding that the pair are ‘relieved and happy’ to have made their relationship public.
Jackman, 56, and Foster, 49, ran in the same theatre circles for years but only became friends after working together on the 2022 Broadway revival of The Music Man, while they were both with their former partners.
The pair confirmed their relationship in early January after stepping out for a very romantic date night in Los Angeles.
‘It felt like the right time as their relationship has gotten stronger,’ the source told US Weekly.
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are ‘madly in love’, according to close sources
‘They’ve known each other for so long that it’s easy to fall into the next stage of their relationship.’
However, Jackman’s ex-wife Deborra-Lee, 69, is not so sure the romance is endgame. In fact, the Force of Nature actress is reportedly certain the relationship won’t last and gives it 12 months before they split.
According to RadarOnline.com, a source close to Deborra-Lee who was married to Hugh for 27 years, claims the actress is giving the relationship ‘just one year before it collapses.’
The source claims that Hugh’s relationship with the younger Sutton, is the result of a ‘mid-life crisis’, despite Hugh reportedly preparing to pop the question to his new ladylove.
‘Debs can spot a mid-life crisis from miles away, and she knows Hugh better than anyone,’ the source claimed.
Adding that Deborra-Lee predicts the union will last ‘just one year before it collapses’, the source said that Hugh’s ‘neediness’ will eventually present a hurdle.
‘He’s needy and he will cry on Sutton’s shoulder and try to help her solve her problems, but he won’t give her space – and that’s just the beginning of why it won’t work out, in her opinion,’ the source continued.
It was also claimed that Deborra-Lee believes Hugh and Sutton’s relationship is merely a novelty – one that will soon wear thin.
The pair became close while working on the 2022 Broadway revival of The Music Man
Deborra-Lee Furness reportedly thinks the relationship will only last a year
‘The passion and novelty of this once secretive affair will fade, along with those love hormones,’ he source added.
Deborra-Lee and Hugh met back 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.
He proposed four months later, telling Today in 2018 that he knew two weeks into meeting that they were ‘going to be together for the rest of our lives.’
They were married in Melbourne, Australia, in April 1996 before adopting their son Oscar, in 2000.
Five years later, they completed their family unit when they adopted daughter Ava.
The couple announced that they were dissolving their 27-year marriage in September 2023.
‘We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,’ the couple said in a statement obtained by People.
‘Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.
Jackman and Furness announced their divorce in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage. Pictured together in 2004
‘We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.’
Meanwhile Hugh and Sutton were spotted kissing for the first time during a loved-up fast food date back in January.
Hugh and Sutton looked deeply in love and couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they repeatedly kissed while in the car at a San Fernando In-N-Out.
Their outing came after the Logan star attended a performance of Foster’s production of Once Upon A Mattress in Los Angeles and after the pair were seen holding hands on a date in Santa Monica.
The two stars had previously shared the stage on Broadway when the played the leads in an acclaimed production of the classic musical The Music Man.
Foster filed for an uncontested divorce from her husband Ted Griffin in October of last year.
She had been married to the 53-year-old Ocean’s screenwriter for 10 years.
The couple had previously been swarmed by rumours that an affair between the two had scuttled their respective marriages.
Insiders claimed their split could get ‘messy’ as they struggle to divvy up their estimated $250million fortune
Dailymail.com revealed, last month that Hugh and Deborra-Lee had yet to file for divorce as their decision to dismiss a prenup is proving to be a point of contention.
Insiders claimed their split could get ‘messy’ as they struggle to divvy up their estimated $250million fortune.
‘One of the biggest reasons why they haven’t yet filed is that they never had a prenup,’ an insider close to Hugh told DailyMail.com exclusively.
‘When they got married, they thought it would be forever. Who doesn’t? At the time, neither of them expected Hugh’s career to get as enormous as it has.
‘Because there was no prenup, and he made a fortune during their marriage, this divorce is not going to be cut and dry. It may even get messy because the stakes are high.
‘A lot of moving parts need to be worked out and there is a huge amount of money involved.’
