Sutton Foster made a swift exit from the red carpet at the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards, skilfully sidestepping any questions about her rumoured relationship with Hugh Jackman. The 50-year-old actress attended the ceremony alone, smiling for photographs alongside her co-star Michael Urie, but declined to speak with the press and was escorted away by her publicist.
Her appearance came just days after Deborra-Lee Furness, Jackman's estranged wife, broke her silence on their divorce with a pointed message. Furness, 69, who filed for divorce two years after the couple's separation, said: “My heart and compassion go out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal.” She also described Jackman's alleged behaviour as “a profound wound that cuts deep” in an interview with Mail Online.
Foster, nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, was among the evening's recognised stars, though she chose not to follow the example of fellow nominees like Darren Criss and Jonathan Groff, who paused to speak with reporters. The actress has reportedly been slowly moving her belongings into Jackman's New York penthouse, the £17 million Chelsea property he purchased with Furness in 2022.
According to a source quoted by New Idea, the couple are now “living together” and “inseparable”, with Foster gradually relocating her items to the apartment. Jackman was recently seen helping Foster carry boxes into the building, while days later she was spotted leaving on a bike. Furness, in her first public comments since the split was confirmed, reflected on the breakdown of her nearly three-decade marriage, saying she believes “God/the universe” is always working for us and that adversity can lead to “true purpose”.
The former couple announced their separation in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage, and their divorce was filed in New York on 23 May. Jackman, best known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men films, has yet to respond publicly to Furness's remarks. The pair first met on the set of the Australian TV series Corelli in 1995, married the following year, and adopted two children together.
