EXCLUSIVE: Hugh Jackman’s estranged wife Deborra-Lee Furness removes her wedding ring for jovial lunch with female pals in NYC – just days after shock split
- The Australian couple share two children together: Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18
- The pair issued a joint statement Friday confirming the shock split after 27 years
- READ MORE: Hugh and Deborra announce split with emotional statement
Hugh Jackman’s estranged wife Deborra-Lee Furness was seen without her wedding ring during lunch with pals in NYC on Tuesday – just days after the couple’s shock split announcement.
The actress, 67, and the actor, 54, announced in a statement on Friday that they had separated after 27 years of marriage, saying they’re moving forward ‘with gratitude, love, and kindness.’
Furness looked in jovial spirits during her meal with her girlfriends and, following in her ex Hugh’s footsteps, was seen to have removed her wedding ring.
The blonde beauty cut a chic figure in a black dress with her hair elegantly coiffed and sporting a radiant palette of make-up as she chatted with her friends, who were no doubt providing moral support amid her break-up.
In a statement on Friday, Hugh and Deborra said: ‘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.
Ring removed: Hugh Jackman ‘s estranged wife Deborra-Lee Furness was seen without her wedding ring during lunch with pals in NYC on Tuesday – just days after the couple’s shock split announcement
Happier times: The actress, 67, and the actor, 54, announced in a statement on Friday that they had separated after 27 years of marriage, saying they’re moving forward ‘with gratitude, love, and kindness’ (pictured April 2023)
‘Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness,’ it continued.
‘We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.’
The former couple signed the statement as ‘Deb and Hugh Jackman,’ adding: ‘This is the sole statement either of us will make.’
The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18.
Jackman briefly spoke with paparazzi on the street on Saturday and admitted he and his soon-to-be ex-wife are struggling with their split.
As he walked along a street, he divulged that ‘it’s a difficult time’ but declined to discuss the breakup further.
Last April, the pair had just celebrated their anniversary and Jackman had posted a gushing tribute to his wife on Instagram.
‘I love you Deb. Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 years! I love you so much,’ the actor wrote in his caption.
Lunch: Furness looked in jovial spirits during her meal with her girlfriends and, following in her ex Hugh’s footsteps, had removed her wedding ring
Laugh out loud: Deborra was seen laughing as she lunched with her girlfriends
Banter: The actreess was seen sharing a joke with her pals in NYC
Days after: The outing comes five days after the split announcement
Smile: The actress was keeping busy with her friends during her split drama
Chat: The group were no doubt providing moral support for Deborra
Chat: The group shared a joke as they lunched alfresco
Support: The star cracked up with laughter with her friends
This April marked the pair’s 27th wedding anniversary and the Wolverine star posted a gushing tribute to his wife (including this photo of the pair)
Gushing post: Hugh paid tribute to his wife in April with this message on social media
‘Together we have created a beautiful family. And life. Your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humor, cheekiness, courage, and loyalty is an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart,’ he shared in the heartfelt post.
While he is undoubtedly more well known than his wife, Deborra-Lee had already shot 20 movies by the time she and Jackman met while costarring as a prison psychologist and a brain-damaged convict in ABC TV’s 10-episode series Correlli in 1995.
In 2000, The Music Man thespian and Furness adopted son Oscar Maximilian, 23, in 2005, they adopted now 18-year-old daughter Ava Eliot.
‘I think honesty and intimacy and making time [are the secret to a long and happy marriage]. You can’t just assume that things will just tick along okay. You have to make time,’ Hugh told Smooth Radio in February.
Deborra-Lee most recently played Jill Bailey alongside Eric Bana in Robert Connolly’s sequel Force of Nature: The Dry 2, which was released in Australian and New Zealand theaters on August 24.
Hugh has never been shy about speaking on his marriage, and praised Deborra-Lee when promoting his hit film The Greatest Showman in 2017.
In an interview, he called Deborra-Lee his ‘best friend’ and main source of support in both his career, and personal life.
Hugh said of his partner: ‘I’m married to the greatest woman alive. She’s amazing. We’re best friends, and we share everything. She’s smart.’
2012 family portrait: In 2000, The Music Man thespian and Furness adopted son Oscar Maximilian, 23, in 2005, they adopted now 18-year-old daughter Ava Eliot
Sparks: In fact, Deborra-Lee had already shot 20 movies by the time she and Jackman met while costarring as a prison psychologist and a brain-damaged convict in ABC’s 10-episode series Correlli in 1995
Moving fast: It was only weeks after they began dating that Hugh asked Deborra-Lee to marry him, and the couple wed in 1996
Talking about how they never spend longer than two weeks apart, he explained that it was because they wish to ‘share everything’ together.
He continued: ‘We always said we’d never spend more than 2 weeks apart. Sometimes life and work does get crazy.
‘But we met on my first job when she was already a big star, I was a nobody. So we have shared everything, all the ups and downs, and always will.’
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