Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness’s love story has come to an end after 27 years of marriage.
“We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” the former couple said in a joint statement to People Friday.
“Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”
Jackman, 54, and Furness, 67, continued, “Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love and kindness.
“We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.”
The statement, signed “Deb and Hugh Jackman,” concluded, “This is the sole statement either of us will make.”
Jackman’s reps declined to comment further, while Furness’s rep did not immediately return our request.
The actors, who both hail from Australia, met on the set of Australian TV series “Correlli” in 1995.
Jackman and Furness tied the knot in 1996 and they share two adopted kids, Oscar Maximilian Jackman, 23, and Ava Eliot Jackman, 18, after struggling to conceive naturally and via IVF.
“Our motivation behind adopting was, ‘Where is the need?’” the “X-Men” star told People in 2017.
“The biggest need is in mixed-race kids. I want to tell my kids that … it doesn’t matter what sexual [orientation] you are, it doesn’t matter what job you do, it doesn’t matter whether your hair is straight or curly, if you’re tall or short, man or woman, what race you are. What defines you as a human being is underneath all that.”
Jackman and Furness’ long-lasting marriage was often praised for withstanding the test of time in Hollywood.
The pair enjoyed spending a lot of time together and were frequently spotted out doing fun activities, including riding around New York City in scooters and going for a swim in the Hamptons.
One of the “Wolverine” star’s last Instagram posts with his now-estranged wife was when they attended the Met Gala together in May. It is unclear how soon after they decided to call it quits.
Despite their united front, they often faced their fair share of criticism due to their 13-year age-difference and Jackman being the one to date an older woman.
In 2017, the “Swordfish” star addressed the age gap, telling People that he was the adult in the relationship.
“She’s just like a little kid. I’m the [one saying], ‘Babe, this is not a legal parking spot,'” he said at the time, to which his then-wife would reportedly respond, “‘Oh, come on, Mr. Goody- Goody.’”
In 2014, Furness addressed that she felt it was an insult to tell her that she was “lucky” for being married to the “The Greatest Showman” star.
“That to me is a putdown. [It’s] like you suggesting I won [a] … raffle. I think we create our own destiny,” the Australian actress told Woman’s Weekly at the time.
“When people look at my life, they don’t know the challenges [I face], just like I don’t know someone else’s [challenges].”
