Hugh Jackman reveals marriage pact he made with Deborra-Lee Furness

The couple announced on Friday that they were parting ways.

Following news of their shock split after 27 years of marriage, an interview has resurfaced of Hugh Jackman speaking about the pact he made with his wife Deborra-Lee Furness that kept their marriage strong.

In 2019, WHO Magazine published an extract from The Father Hood: Inspiration for the New Dad Generation, where the Wolverine actor revealed the promise he and Deb would come back to whenever things were tough.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness.
Hugh Jackman revealed in 2019 that he and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness had made a promise that kept their marriage strong. Photo: Getty

“Before we had kids, Deb and I made a pretty simple but powerful choice to look each other in the eye at every crossroads in life. Those crossroads are sometimes big, sometimes they're small, sometimes you don't even realise they're crossroads until you look back,” he shared.

“But at those moments, we said we'd ask each other, ‘Is this good or bad for our marriage?’ Or, now that we've got kids, ‘Is this good or bad for our family?’ And as often as possible, we do the thing that is good for our family.”

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The same year, Hugh told People that he believed 'intimacy' was the key to a long-lasting marriage.

“Without a doubt, it is the most important thing,” he said.

“People talk about intimacy and assume that means in the bedroom. Of course it is that, but really, intimacy is being able to share everything together—good, bad, fears, successes. Deb and I had that from the beginning. We’ve always been completely ourselves with each other.”

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness looking at each other.
Hugh previously said that ‘intimacy’ was the key to a long-lasting marriage. Photo: Getty

'We have decided to separate'

Hugh and Deb shocked fans on Friday when they announced that they are parting ways after 27 years of marriage and two kids.

In a statement to People, the pair said: “We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.

“Our family has been and always will be our highest priority," the statement continued. "We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.”

They signed the statement “Deb and Hugh Jackman,” and noted, “This is the sole statement either of us will make”.

The couple met in 1995 on the set of the TV show Correlli and share two children together: Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18, whom they adopted after a heartbreaking fertility journey.

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