Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster’s NYC Date Night: A Love Story Unfolds!

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Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are stepping out together. 

The couple were hand-in-hand while going out for a walk in New York City May 17. 

Hugh and Sutton, who made their relationship official in January with a affectionate walk in Santa Monica, California, opted for casual attire for this excursion and seemed cheerful, flashing smiles while enjoying the city’s sights.

As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that a special moment has arrived! I’m currently gracing the stage in an Off-Broadway production titled “Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Class“. The show officially premiered on April 28 and will run until June 18.

Their romantic relationship began when they acted alongside each other on stage in the 2022 Broadway revival of “The Music Man.” Over two years after their last performance together, they publicly announced that the bond formed during the production had developed into a romance, as both had parted ways with their respective partners, Deborra-Lee Furness and Ted Griffin.

Hugh had been married to Deborra-Lee for thirty years and they had two children, Oscar who was then 24 years old and Ava who was 19, when they announced their split in September of 2023.

As I reflect on nearly three incredible decades of marriage filled with love and unity, my partner and I find ourselves at a crossroads. We’ve chosen to embark on separate paths to foster personal growth and development. This decision was not made lightly, but it is a necessary step for us both as we navigate the ebbs and flows of life.

Approximately a year after they co-parented their 7-year-old daughter Emily, Sutton and Ted parted ways. Sutton initiated the divorce proceedings in September, as reported by TopMob News based on court records.

However, it wasn’t until Hugh and Sutton publicly acknowledged their relationship several months following the actress from Younger‘s divorce filing that we learn they had a longstanding connection.

In 2022, during our collaboration with Hugh, I confided in Vogue that he has since become one of my closest friends, an unexpected turn of events. Initially, when venturing into such endeavors, I harbored hopes of camaraderie but never truly anticipated this level of friendship.

To express it in my own words, bursting with fervor, I’d say: “There’s simply no denying he’s a relentless worker, uncommonly kind, and overflowing with generosity—every bit of that rings true for me.

Keep reading for a deeper look into Hugh and Sutton’s friendship… 

In the not so distant past, approximately two decades prior to our mutual starring role in “The Music Man”, I was graced with the opportunity to witness a remarkable performance by none other than Sutton Foster in “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. This musical earned her her first Tony Award.

Fast forward to May 2022, when this esteemed actress shared with Broadway.com a fascinating tidbit about our initial encounter. She had captured the moment on camera, and it was during this time that Hugh Jackman, who was delivering an outstanding performance in “The Boy From Oz”, and I, had not yet officially worked together, despite our paths crossing on several occasions.

One time, Foster took on the role of Princess Fiona in the musical version of Shrek, and it so happened that Jackman attended the show. Backstage, they all posed for a picture together with her co-stars, John Tartaglia and Christopher Sieber.

2014 saw Jackman and Foster crossing paths once more at the Tony Awards. He was the host, while they danced together along with her fellow nominees for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. The next day, Foster posted a picture of that memorable moment on Instagram, simply captioned, “This happened.

In 2017’s film “The Greatest Showman”, Foster wasn’t present, but she disclosed that she had contributed briefly to the project. To be precise, on different occasions, she worked alongside Jackman during rehearsals for the movie. This is when they first met, but their interactions were limited to a few days here and there.

Back in March 2019, it became known that Jackman had been cast as Harold Hill for the play The Music Man. A few weeks later, he shared a vintage photo from the 2014 Tonys on social media along with the message, “Next up: partnering with Sutton Foster as #Marian.

As a passionate admirer, I had the privilege of attending the initial workshop in March 2020 for “The Music Man,” starring a beloved X-Men actor and a celebrated Bunheads personality. Regrettably, the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 forced Broadway theaters to shut down, causing the show’s opening to be delayed.

In October 2021, Hugh Jackman announced the start of rehearsals for the musical The Music Man. Later, Foster shared a video featuring the cast during week three of preparation, and Jackman posted a dance practice clip from December. At that time on Instagram, Jackman wrote, “Hundreds have contributed to this moment, but one I want to acknowledge is @suttonlenore. This show wouldn’t exist without you. You’re an extraordinary talent and friend. Your energy animates the entire cast of . I can hardly wait for the world to witness you as ‘Marian’. They are in store for a fantastic spectacle.

In February 2022, the production of “The Music Man” held its opening night, and Jackman and Foster appeared on the red carpet together for photos. The following day, Foster posted on Instagram, expressing her feelings: “What an honor to stand by your side! You are simply extraordinary.”

Although Foster and Jackman initially felt nervous about collaborating, they ended up developing a strong friendship in the process.

49-year-old Foster shared with Vogue in June 2022 that Jackman is a man of exceptional work ethic, kindness, and generosity, all of which she confirmed to be true. She added that he has a disarming presence and is selfless, something that initially surprised her since they had only expected to become acquaintances. However, their friendship blossomed, and they spent Memorial Day together with their families in 2022. Foster also mentioned that her daughter Emily, whom she adopted with Ted Griffin in 2017, affectionately calls Jackman “Uncle Hugh” and considers him part of the family.

Jackman and Foster joyfully marked the achievement of their show in May 2022. They graced the red carpet at the 2022 Drama League Awards, with Jackman being honored for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre and Foster receiving the Distinguished Performance Award. In an unexpected twist, Jackman himself announced Foster’s win to the audience during one of their performances.

On Instagram, Foster expressed her admiration for Jackman on May 21st: “Jackman is a treasure,” she wrote. “Last night at @musicmanbway, he stopped the curtain call to make a surprise announcement because he had ‘something very special’ to share with everyone.”

A month later, they attended the 2022 Tony Awards, where The Music Man received six nominations.

As I bid farewell to the stage as The Music Man in January 2023, it marked not only the end of a beloved role but also the conclusion of a significant chapter in my personal life. In September of that year, my wife Deborra-Lee Furness and I, who have been married for 27 years, made the difficult decision to part ways.

In a joint statement to People magazine on September 15, 2023, we shared our feelings: “We have been privileged to spend nearly three decades together as husband and wife in a beautiful, loving marriage.” We went on to say, “Our path now is evolving, and we have chosen to separate in order to focus on our individual growth.”

Jackman and Furness are proud parents to two wonderful adult children, Oscar and Ava.

The ex-couple emphasized that their family remains their utmost concern now and forevermore. As they embark on this new phase, they do so with an attitude of gratitude, affection, and compassion. They kindly ask for your patience and understanding as their family adjusts to this life change together.

As an ardent admirer putting words into their mouth,

“We, Jackman and Furness, have decided to speak only once on this matter: ‘This is the single statement you’ll hear from either of us.’ Despite this, it seems our bond remains strong. Indeed, my representative confirmed to Page Six that we celebrated Jackman’s 55th birthday together at Polo Bar in New York City last October, and the evening was simply delightful.

Reflecting on her personal growth, Furness shared with People magazine in May 2024 that she discovered her inner strength and resilience. She also emphasized the ongoing nature of our personal development, expressing that we are all continually evolving.

 

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

Following speculation about their relationship, Jackman and Foster seemed to validate the romance rumors by strolling together holding hands in Santa Monica, California on January 6 (view the images here).

This sighting occurred just two days after Jackman was photographed attending Foster’s stage performance of Once Upon a Mattress in Los Angeles, as captured by Deux Moi.

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2025-05-20 19:17