Relive Hugh Jackman & Sutton Foster’s Friendship Before Romance Rumors

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster’s relationship status is taking center stage.

Following speculation about their relationship, the actor from X-Men, aged 56, and the actress from Younger, aged 49, seemed to validate their dating status by walking together holding hands in Santa Monica, California, on January 6th.

Yesterday, Jackman went to the last performance of the musical “Once Upon a Mattress,” led by Foster, at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Photos from social media show him there, alongside comedy legend Carol Burnett, who played Foster’s character, Princess Winnifred, in the original Broadway production.

Three months after filing for divorce from her husband of a decade, Ted Griffin, Foster was spotted. They share a 7-year-old daughter named Emily. Last year, Jackman announced the termination of his 27-year marriage with Deborra Lee-Furness, mother to Oscar (age 24) and Ava (age 19).

In a statement to People magazine in September 2023, the Correlli costars expressed that they’ve been fortunate to spend nearly three decades as husband and wife in a beautiful, loving marriage. They further mentioned that their path is changing, and they have chosen to separate to focus on personal development independently.

In the musical, Jackman portrayed the role of Harold Hill, a cunning salesman who attempts to deceive the residents of River City, Iowa by convincing them to establish a marching band for his financial gain (by selling instruments and uniforms). However, he eventually develops feelings for Marian Paroo, a character played by Foster, who is a librarian.

Initially, both actors found it daunting to collaborate due to Foster’s numerous Tony nominations and Jackman’s iconic role as Wolverine in the X-Men series. However, since then, they have openly discussed developing a strong bond of friendship together.

She mentioned to Broadway.com in May 2022 that she casually knows this man, and sometimes even forgets about his high-profile status. “I believe one of his special abilities is his disarming nature,” she said. “He instantly makes everyone feel comfortable. He never draws attention to himself. Instead, he’s exceptionally kind to those around him. This leads you to think, ‘Oh, alright.’ The most remarkable outcome from this entire encounter is that I’ve gained a new friend who just so happens to be Hugh Jackman – which feels quite surreal.

Interestingly enough, they had already crossed paths years earlier, long before collaborating on ‘The Music Man’. If you’d like to delve into their past, carry on reading.

Approximately two decades prior to their collaboration in “The Music Man,” Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster crossed paths when he attended her performance in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – a show that earned her her first Tony Award. In an interview with Broadway.com in May 2022, the actress shared some photographic proof of their initial encounter, mentioning they had previously met but hadn’t officially worked together until later.

One time, Foster starred as Princess Fiona in the musical version of Shrek, and Jackman attended the show. Backstage, they took a picture with their fellow cast members John Tartaglia and Christopher Sieber.

At the 2014 Tony Awards, Jackman and Foster found themselves in each other’s company once more. On that occasion, he was the host and they shared a waltz on stage with her and the other nominees for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical category.

Posting a picture of this moment on Instagram the day following the event, Foster simply captioned it, “This occurred.

In 2017’s movie The Greatest Showman, Foster wasn’t present, however, she disclosed that she had briefly worked on the project. As the star of Younger explained to Broadway.com, “I attended a few workshops for The Greatest Showman with him. So I got to meet him back then, but it was only sporadically for a couple of days.

In March 2019, it was disclosed that Jackman had been chosen to play the main character Harold Hill in The Music Man. Towards the end of the same month, he shared a vintage photo from the 2014 Tonys on social media, captioning it “For our next dance… Sutton Foster will be #Marian.

In March 2020, the actors known from X-Men and Bunheads held their initial workshop for The Music Man. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Broadway theaters were forced to shut down, leading to the delay of the show’s opening.

In October 2021, Jackman announced the start of rehearsals for “The Music Man”. Additionally, Foster shared a video of the cast members during week three of preparations, and Jackman posted a dance practice clip from December. On Instagram, at the time, Jackman wrote, “There are hundreds contributing to this moment, but I want to specifically honor one – @suttonlenore. This show wouldn’t be possible without you. You’re an extraordinary talent and friend. Your energy brings the entire cast of @musicmanbway to life. I can’t wait for everyone to witness you as ‘Marian’. They are in for a treat!

In February 2022, “The Music Man” held its premiere, and on the red carpet, Jackman and Foster were snapped together for photos. The following day, Foster posted on Instagram, expressing her feelings: “What an honor it was to be by your side. You are absolutely outstanding!”

After some initial apprehension about collaborating, they ended up forming a friendship, as both Foster and Jackman have acknowledged.

49-year-old Foster shared with Vogue in June 2022 that Jackman is known for his exceptional work ethic, kindness, and generosity, all of which are accurate. She added that he has a unique ability to put others at ease and not make things about himself. What was unexpected was their friendship, as she typically goes into such situations hoping they’ll get along. However, they recently spent Memorial Day with their families, and it’s enjoyable meeting new friends after 40.

Foster’s daughter Emily, whom she adopted in 2017 with Ted Griffin, even refers to Jackman as “Uncle Hugh.” In an interview with Broadway.com in May 2022, Foster mentioned that Emily would ask about Uncle Hugh coming over, and I confirm that he is indeed part of our family.

Jackman and Foster were still basking in the triumph of their show last year. In May 2022, they graced the red carpet at the 2022 Drama League Awards. During this event, Jackman was bestowed with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre recognition, while Foster took home the Distinguished Performance Award. To top it off, Jackman declared Foster’s win to the audience during one of their performances at the end of a show.

“@thehughjackman is amazing,” Foster shared on Instagram May 21. “See him pausing the final bow at @musicmanbway last night to make an unexpected announcement because he had something extraordinary to share with everyone.”

A month later, they were also present at the 2022 Tony Awards, where The Music Man garnered six nominations.

As I stood there, tears streaming down my face during the final performance of “The Music Man” in January 2023, little did I know that a chapter even more profound was about to close. This wasn’t just the end of a beloved musical for me, but also the end of a beautiful journey shared by two incredible individuals – Hugh Jackman and his wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness.

On September 15, 2023, their joint statement to People announced their decision to separate, a choice made to pursue individual growth. They had spent almost three decades together as husband and wife, building a wonderful, loving marriage. Their journey was shifting, and this separation marked the beginning of new paths for both.

Together, they have raised two beautiful children, Oscar and Ava, who are now grown adults. The love they shared has left an indelible mark on their lives, as it has on countless fans like me. Though the news was bittersweet, I couldn’t help but admire their strength and courage in facing this new chapter head-on.

Regarding our family, it remains our topmost concern now and forever. As we move forward into a new phase, we do so with an attitude of thankfulness, affection, and compassion. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding while we preserve our privacy during this life-changing journey that affects all of us.

In another turn of events, Jackman and Furness stated, “This is the only comment we will be making on this topic.” Nevertheless, it seemed they were still friendly, as his representative confirmed to Page Six that they celebrated Jackman’s 55th birthday at Polo Bar in New York City that October, and the evening was reportedly delightful.

Last year, Furness pondered on the insights she gained about herself.”

“In an interview with People in May 2024, she expressed,”I discovered that I am strong and adaptable,” adding, “We are all continuously growing and changing.

In October 2024, Foster filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years.

Following speculation about their relationship, pictures emerged on January 6th showing Jackman and Foster holding hands in Santa Monica, California (take a look here). This encounter followed closely after Jackman was spotted attending Foster’s performance of “Once Upon a Mattress” in L.A., as captured by Deux Moi.

2025-01-08 19:47

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