Hugh Jackman’s estranged wife Deborra-Lee Furness breaks silence after shock split

Hugh Jackman’s estranged wife Deborra-Lee Furness has broken her silence after their shock split.

The couple have been married for 27 years and have two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18. But earlier this month they announced they are separating.

Jackman and Furness shared a joint statement to People magazine confirming their separation.

It reads: “We have been blessed to share almost three 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.

"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."

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Signed ‘Deb and Hugh Jackman’, it concluded with: “This is the sole statement either of us will make.”

Furness spoke out for the first time yesterday (25 September) when she answered a cold call from Aussie radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson on The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

According to the Daily Mail, Sandilands admitted to the actor: “We have actually called you by mistake, it’s ridiculous.

“We didn’t mean to actually call you. But now you’re here, we won’t go into it. We love you, we hope you’re well.”

Furness didn’t seem irritated by the random call as she said: “Thank you guys, I really appreciate it. You’re really sweet.”

Although the separation wasn’t directly mentioned, Sandilands did add: “I just feel it’s too soon. I don’t want to get involved in anything. But we love you, and you ring us when you want to chat.”

Jackson also recently made reference to the breakup when talking to paparazzi.

The X-Men star confessed it had been a ‘difficult time’, but didn’t share any further detail than that.

The acting couple met on the set of Aussie TV show Corelli back in 1995, and tied the knot the following year.

In a previous interview with People in 2017, Jackman opened up about their first meeting and what an impression his future-wife had on him.

He said: “Deb, she was a big star… I get picked up, and Deb is in the front seat of the car. I’ll never forget.

“She took off her seatbelt and she turned around and put out her hand and took off her sunglasses and said, ‘Hi, I’m Deborra-Lee Furness, nice to meet you.’ I remember thinking, ‘I like this girl.’”