Deborra-Lee Furness, Hugh Jackman’s estranged wife, was photographed on a solo outing in New York City on Tuesday, just three days before the couple announced they were separating after 27 years of marriage.
The 67-year-old Australian actress looked casual yet elegant as she climbed into a waiting SUV in the city.
Notably, she didn’t appear to have a wedding ring, although it’s unclear how consistently she wore it before the breakup news.
confirmed on Wednesday that she and her 54-year-old husband were separating after nearly three decades together.
“We were fortunate to spend nearly three decades as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. “Our journey is now changing and we have decided to separate to further our individual growth,” the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Friday.
Single life: Deborra-Lee Furness, Hugh Jackman’s estranged wife, was spotted on a solo outing in New York City without her wedding ring on Tuesday – just three days before they announced their split
The Ending: “We have been fortunate to spend nearly three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage.” “Our journey is now changing and we have decided to separate to further our individual growth,” said the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Friday
“Our family has always been and continues to be our highest priority.” We approach this next chapter with gratitude, love and kindness. “We thank you very much for your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition throughout our lives.”
The former couple signed the statement “Deb and Hugh Jackman” and added: “This is the only statement either of us will make.”
The Australian couple have two children together: Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18.
For her trip to the Big Apple on Tuesday, Deborra-Lee wore a black short-sleeved tiered top with matching black pleated shorts.
She dazzled with long, vertically striped black and white socks that reached her knees and complemented the playful look with black patent leather shoes with white tips and platform soles.
Carrying a simple black handbag in one hand, she wore her platinum blonde hair pulled back with her long bangs framing her face.
Deborra-Lee’s left ring finger was apparently bare, although she often wore a wedding ring or engagement ring on it.
Just over a year ago, she wore a sparkler as she planted a romantic kiss on Hugh’s lips as they walked the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival.
The couple celebrated the premiere of their film “The Son,” which received widespread critical acclaim.
Back in black: She wore a black top and matching shorts, with high black and white striped socks and matching platform shoes. Although she went without her wedding ring, she appears to have had it before, sometimes even with Hugh at her side
Here today, gone tomorrow: Deborra-Lee’s left ring finger was apparently bare, although she has often worn a wedding band or engagement ring on it, as she did when she kissed Hugh at the Venice Film Festival in September 2022 (pictured)
Disappearance: However, when they were spotted together at the Met Gala in New York City in May this year, Deborra-Lee was noticeably missing her wedding ring, despite wearing a different ring on her pinky finger
However, when they were spotted together at the Met Gala in New York City in May of this year, Deborra-Lee was noticeably missing her wedding ring, despite wearing a different ring on her pinky finger.
However, the couple still seemed affectionate, wrapping their arms around each other and beaming at the cameras.
Deborra-Lee is 13 years older than Hugh and the pair have previously said they have never spent more than two weeks apart since their wedding in 1996.
In April this year, the couple celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary and the “Wolverine” star posted a gushing tribute to his wife.
“I love you, Deb.” Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 years! “I love you so much,” the actor gushed to his 79.1 million followers on social media.
“Together we have created a beautiful family.” And life. Your laughter, your spirit, your generosity, your humor, your sass, your courage and your loyalty are an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart.’
Although he is undoubtedly better known than his wife, Deborra-Lee had already made 20 films when she and Jackman met in 1995, appearing as a prison psychologist and brain-damaged convict in ABC TV’s 10-part series Correlli.
In 2000, The Music Man and Furness adopted 23-year-old son Oscar Maximilian, and in 2005 they adopted daughter Ava Eliot, now 18.
“I think about honesty, intimacy and saving time [are the secret to a long and happy marriage]. You can’t just assume that everything is going well. “You have to take your time,” Hugh told Smooth Radio in February.
Deborra-Lee most recently played Jill Bailey opposite Eric Bana in Robert Connolly’s sequel Force of Nature: The Dry 2, which was released in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on August 24th.
Hugh has never been shy about talking about his marriage and praised Deborra-Lee while promoting his 2017 hit film The Greatest Showman.
In an interview, he described Deborra-Lee as his “best friend” and most important source of support in both his career and personal life.
Big day: This April, the couple celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary, and the Wolverine star posted a gushing tribute to his wife (including this recent photo of the couple).
Gushing post: Hugh paid tribute to his wife with this message on social media in April
Inseparable: At 67, the Australian blonde is 13 years older than Hugh, but since their wedding in 1996 (pictured in 1997) they have never spent more than two weeks apart.
Family portrait 2012: In 2000, The Music Man and Furness adopted 23-year-old son Oscar Maximilian, and in 2005 they adopted daughter Ava Eliot, now 18
Cougar Vibes: In fact, Deborra-Lee had already made 20 films when she and Jackman met in 1995, starring as a prison psychologist and brain-damaged convict in the 10-part ABC series “Correlli.”
Hugh said of his partner: “I’m married to the greatest woman in the world.” She’s great. We are best friends and share everything. She’s smart.’
Speaking about how they were never apart from each other for more than two weeks, he explained that it was because they wanted to “share everything together.”
He continued: “We always said we would never be more than two weeks apart.” Sometimes life and work go crazy.
“But we met at my first job when she was already a big star, I was a nobody.” “So we shared everything, all the ups and downs, and always will.”
In an interview with Anh Do for ABC TV’s “Anh’s Brush With Fame” in 2021, Deborra-Lee revealed that it was her escape from Hollywood and return to Australia that allowed her to fall in love with Hugh.
She described her difficulties trying to book roles while spending time with her friends – and fellow actors – Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts, but a meeting with a psychic during a particularly difficult period convinced her to return home to work seek.
“She said, ‘You have to go back to Australia. In Australia everything falls into place and you will meet someone and have to leave,” Deborra-Lee said.
After returning Down Under, she found more work than she could get in Los Angeles, but her most important role from this time was in the series Correlli.
Things happen quickly: Just weeks after they met, Hugh asked Deborra-Lee to marry him, and the couple wed in 1996
Colleagues: Deborra-Lee told People last year that she helped Hugh by working with him, and joked that she could have taken over the role of his co-star in The Music Man; seen in Paris in February
After booking the role, she received positive feedback from producers about her co-star, who they hilariously mistakenly called “Jack Hughman.”
She said she had “never heard of him” but said they felt “an instant attraction” as soon as they were on set together.
However, she joked that her friends teased her that he wasn’t a good match for her because “he looks like he’s taking a bath.”
The two developed a close personal and professional relationship, and Deborra-Lee revealed to People in February 2022 that she would help Hugh learn his lines while he worked on the musical “The Music Man.”
“We do everything together,” she said, before clarifying that she left the “tap dancing” to her entertainer husband.
She even bragged that she could have taken over for his co-star Sutton Foster “in a pinch” because she knew her lines so well, although she wasn’t keen on the idea.
“You’d have to push me on stage,” she joked.
Back in November 2020, Deborra-Lee spoke to People about the importance of her family with Hugh and her children.
Signs of strife? In July this year, the couple were pictured watching Carlos Alcaraz take on Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon 2023 men’s final on Center Court
The Odd Couple: In an interview for Anh’s Brush With Fame in 2021, Deborra-Lee joked that Hugh was an odd match for her friends because “he looks like he’s taking a bath.”
“Family to me means feeling safe,” she admitted.
“I always use the phrase, ‘We all need to know that we are valuable,'” she continued. “When you have a family, you always feel like you’re important in someone else’s life.”
In an interview with People in 2017, Deborra-Lee opened up about why her marriage lasted as long as she attended the National Night of Laughter and Song with Hugh.
“We meditate together,” she shared. “And sometimes we have friends who do that too.” It’s a beautiful thing on Sunday mornings. “Everyone come over and then we’ll have breakfast.”