Australian actor Hugh Jackman, face of Wolverine in the X-Men saga, and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness Jackman announced their separation on Friday after 27 years of marriage. “We have decided to separate to pursue our personal development,” they explained in a joint statement to People magazine. In this statement, which must be the only one on their breakup, the couple said they had “been fortunate to live almost three decades together, as husband and wife, in a wonderful and loving marriage. We begin this new chapter with gratitude, love and kindness.”
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The two actors met in 1995 on the set of the series “Corelli” and married a year later. At the time, Deborra-Lee Furness had already made a name for herself as an actress – notably with her role as a vengeful biker in Shame -, while Hugh Jackman was still a young freshman fresh out of drama studies. It was only from 2000 that he became world famous, playing the mutant Wolverine with all his muscles and claws in the first part of the X-Men saga, alongside a career on the stage on Broadway. Hugh Jackman is now 54 years old, Deborah-Lee Furness is 67. The couple have two children: Oscar, 23 years old, and Ava, 18 years old. “Our family has been and always will be our biggest priority,” emphasized the two actors in their press release. The couple has regularly appeared on red carpets around the world for years. In April, Hugh Jackman celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary on Instagram. “I love you so much. Together we created a beautiful family. (…) Your laughter, your spirit, your generosity, your humor, your impertinence, your courage and your loyalty are an incredible gift for me,” the actor wrote to his wife.