Even seasoned actors like Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman occasionally feel uncomfortable while filming intimate scenes on-screen. They were cast in Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 epic adventure drama movie, Australia and their chemistry was irresistible.
The movie’s story took place between 1939 and 1942 against a dramatic backdrop of historical happenings in northern Australia at the time. The lead actors received high praise for their performances, despite the movie’s unfavorable reviews and $211 million worldwide gross.
For the Kate & Leopold actor, it was different, though. Jackman was not too comfortable with the romantic scenes he had to perform with Kidman for the 2008 movie, especially kissing his co-star.
Well, there is a long history between Kidman, and Jackman’s ex-wife, Deborra Lee-Furness.
Why Was Hugh Jackman Hesitant To Kiss Nicole Kidman?
Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman starred in Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 film Australia, which took the audience on an epic journey against the backdrop of World War II. The film combined romance, adventure, and historical events into a captivating cinematic experience.
However, Kidman and Jackman would need to share some romantic scenes for the movie, which the latter found to be somewhat uncomfortable.
Since Kidman and Jackman’s ex-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, are close friends, the Bad Education actor claimed that his kissing scene was quite “awkward”. During his BAFTA interview, he said.
“Nicole lived with my wife Deb when she first came to Hollywood, so they’re best of friends.”
The actor went on to say:
“Needless to say Deb wasn’t on set when we had our kissing scenes, that would have been awkward, but we talked about it. I said ‘Let’s talk about it,’ and we just sort of, we both loved the project and created an atmosphere, which was safe.”
Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness were married on April 11, 1996. However, the couple recently made their separation decision public. But they did not make this decision without giving it some serious thought.
Hugh Jackman And Deborra-Lee Furness Are ‘Devastated’ After Divorce Announcement
Despite the fact that they both agreed to the split, a source close to the couple recently tells PEOPLE that Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are “devastated” and find it “very hard” to part ways:
“It was not a snap decision — they took a lot of time and consideration of everything, and they made this decision together. They are going on separate journeys, but they will always be a family. They’ll always be co-parents and best friends.”
Jackman, 54, and Furness, 67, who are parents to two kids, have no animosity, as their relationship enters a new phase. In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE last week, the former couple revealed that they are divorcing after 27 years of marriage:
“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.”
They got married on April 11, 1996, less than a year after they first met on the set of the Australian TV show Correlli in 1995. Jackman talked to PEOPLE in 2017 about his first meeting with the Shame actress:
“Deb, she was a big star…I get picked up, and Deb is in the front seat of the car. I’ll never forget. She took off her seatbelt and she turned around and put out her hand and took off her sunglasses and said, ‘Hi, I’m Deborra-lee Furness, nice to meet you.’ I remember thinking, ‘I like this girl.’”
On the work front, Jackman was last seen in Florian Zeller’s 2022 drama film The Son. The majority of the reviews for the movie were unfavorable, but the X-Men star’s performance was praised.
Meanwhile, his upcoming movie, Deadpool 3—a part of the MCU’s Phase 5— is slated for release on May 3, 2024.
You can stream Australia on Hulu
