Hugh Jackman's new girlfriend, Sutton Foster, has opened up about the 'lonely' times of her life, despite her relationship thrusting her into the public eye. The veteran Broadway actress, 51, was recently part of a Women's Health Lab panel in New York City called The Science of Staying Strong, in which she discussed how isolated she often feels in her high-profile role.
'I've been a leading lady for a long time... but often I feel really alone,' Sutton began. 'I reached out to a lot of my contemporaries last year, and a lot of the women on Broadway, and we all are usually on our own. Everyone shared the commonality of loneliness.'
Sutton then appeared to allude to the perceived tension between her and Hugh Jackman's ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness, adding she hoped women in high-profile positions could instead support each other. 'Women of power can actually support each other. We don't have to be pitted against each other,' Sutton said.
Meeting the Ex-Wife
Last week, it was revealed that Hugh, 57, and Sutton were reportedly left 'blindsided' by a shock request from his ex-wife. Hugh and Sutton publicly confirmed their romance in January 2025, a year after he announced that he and Deborra-Lee had split – and now she wants to meet her ex-husband's new partner. However, Deb has no intention of causing trouble for the pair and wants to meet so they can all move forward.
'This isn't about Deb being angry or wanting to read Sutton the riot act. It's about closure,' an insider told this week's New Idea magazine. They added that while Deborra was initially reluctant to meet, she now wants to in an attempt to minimise some of the perceived tension. 'At this point it feels like something she needs to check off her list, if only to put an end to the awkwardness... also so she can speak her truth,' the insider added.
They said that Hugh and Sutton had been very public about their new romance, which had come as a shock to Deborra, as they were visiting all the places that she used to go to with the Wolverine actor. The source said that Hugh and Sutton were surprised by Deborra's request – but were open to the idea so they could clear the air of any perceived tension.
Met Gala Appearance and Wedding Rumours
It comes after Hugh was slammed for attending this year's Met Gala in New York City with Sutton. The actor's shock move was seen as a brutal final blow to his ex-wife when they arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, tenderly holding hands as they posed for photos. The actor finalised his divorce from Furness last June, after 27 years of marriage, while his romance with Foster began in late 2024, following their starring roles in Broadway's 2021 revival of The Music Man.
Hugh and his ex-wife previously attended multiple Met Galas, with their last joint appearance being in 2023. The actor notably showed up to the 2024 soiree solo and skipped the event altogether last year amid their high-profile split. And for his grand 2026 return to the Met Gala, Hugh had Sutton by his side as he trekked up the Metropolitan Museum of Art's iconic staircase. Their Met Gala debut as a couple comes amid rumours that a wedding between the pair is close at hand. Back in February, the Globe claimed that Hugh rejected the idea of drawing up a prenup with the Broadway star. The alleged wedding planning comes less than a year after Hugh and Deborra-Lee finalised their bitter divorce, after separating in 2023. The Met Gala became a tradition for them in the latter years of their marriage, with the couple making back-to-back appearances in 2017 and 2018.
