On 60 Minutes Australia, one of the most candid versions of Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness and their enviable love for each other is captured on camera. While the two stars walk the streets of New York, encountering fans, and paparazzi, and reliving old stories, there is one tale in particular that remains their favorite one to tell — their first meeting.
Deborra-Lee Furness, once a leading lady herself, recounts the day she met Hugh Jackman on the set of the ABC-TV drama, Correlli, in 1995. Five years later, the rising actor became an overnight sensation and would go on to define the legacy of X-Men as Wolverine.
Deborra-Lee Furness & Hugh Jackman: Their Origin Story
The saga of Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness began when the two were cast in the ABC-TV drama, Correlli where the latter played the series lead, a criminal psychologist named Louisa Correlli who finds herself falling for her convict patient, Kevin James (Hugh Jackman). The limited series had only 10 episodes and was aired in 1995 but the time on set was enough for Jackman to fall in love with Deborra-Lee Furness, something the latter wasn’t quite prepared for.
During their interview, the couple remembers their onscreen and offscreen romance after their first meeting. Hugh Jackman remembers the day and giddily claims,
“I knew pretty soon, but it was also my first job, Deb was the leading lady, and I was fully aware this was a cliche and I was probably being ridiculous, so I backed off but right from the beginning, we were great friends.”
As fun as their reel-meets-real story was, the relationship faced a rocky start as Furness recalls how she was against the relationship in the beginning due to her one strict New Year’s resolution. It was only later revealed that the Correlli actress too harbored a mutual crush on Hugh Jackman when the former dumped Mick Jagger to spend an evening with Jackman at his soiree.
Deborra Lee-Furness Breaks Her Resolution For Husband
Deborra-Lee Furness likes to tell the story of how she almost turned down her husband due to her ridiculous rule. And so, when asked by the interviewer if the actress was reluctant at all, hinting at how the couple later moved beyond the banner of friendship, Furness once again narrates,
“So reluctant. My New Year’s resolution was I’m not dating any actors and definitely none under 30. Meet my husband.”
The resolution almost led Furness to break off their relationship three weeks into dating, Jackman later admitted on Aussies in Hollywood with Jenny Cooney podcast. Luckily for him, he says, “I managed to talk her out of it, thank god.” The X-Men actor proposed 4 months later. Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman married in April 1996, a mere 11 months after they first met on the sets of Correlli. The couple, to this day, remains one of the most beloved Hollywood couples and are doting parents to their two children, Oscar and Ava.
Source: 60 Minutes Australia
