When it comes to adorable Hollywood relationships, sure, there are the Dax Shepards and Kristen Bells and the Ryan Reynolds and Blake Livelys.
But there are also the Hugh Jackmans and Deborra-Lee Furnesses — a couple that’s been together for 24 years, despite a rough start and a 14-year age gap.
Come get to know these lovebirds.
1. They met in 1995 on the set of the Australian TV series, *Correlli*.
In the 10-episode drama, Jackman played a prisoner who lost his memory from the trauma of being transported to jail.
Meanwhile, Furness played the prison psychologist trying to help him recover his memory.
It was love at first sight for Hugh.
The moment the actor met Deb, he knew he liked her.
Soon, he even knew that he would be together with her forever. “I knew two weeks into meeting Deb that we were going to be together for the rest of our lives,” the Logan actor said to Today .
2. They had “instant chemistry” on set.
Jackman has called their time on the show the “best experience.”
“There was a chemistry. And every time we had a scene together, it was unbelievable…,” he told the Aussies in Hollywood podcast, adding that he’s never felt that way again with anyone else.
3. Since Deb was a huge star at the time, Hugh was intimidated by her at first.
“My first job out of drama school—it was a massive break for me. I was really scared,” Jackman told Jess Cagle on People TV in 2017.
4. Hugh never thought that Deb would reciprocate his feelings.
He simply felt like yet another actor on set with a crush on the leading lady.
But everything changed when he invited her and some friends over for dinner at his place.
When she asked why he had been ignoring her, he came clean.
“I said, ‘I got a crush on you. I’ll get over it, I’m sorry,'” Jackman shared on The Ellen Show .
“She goes, ‘Oh? Because I’ve got a crush on you too.’ I never in a million years thought she reciprocated.”
5. They struggled with infertility.
Since Deb was 40 when they started trying for kids, this soon led to a long battle with infertility.
“Until you go through it, you realize [infertility is] not talked about a lot.… And it [was] a difficult time,” Jackman told Katie Couric.
6. They adopted their children.
This one is bittersweet.
After Jackman’s wife had two miscarriages, the couple turned to adoption . They adopted a boy and a girl, Oscar Maximillian and Ava Eliot.
7. Deb tried to break up with Hugh three weeks into dating.
While there aren’t many details on why this happened, Jackman has explained that he managed to talk her out of it.
His reasoning for doing so will absolutely melt your heart.
According to Hugh, he knew right away that Deb was his soulmate.
“I even knew when she was trying to work out reasons to break up with me…” he once shared on the Aussies in Hollywood podcast.
I guess there is such a thing as love at first sight!
8. Deb is 14 years older.
Despite this, Hugh has said that he’s the adult in the relationship.
“She’s just like a little kid. I’m the [one saying], ‘Babe, this is not a legal parking spot.’ ‘Oh, come on, Mr. Goody- Goody,'” Hugh told the Aussies in Hollywood podcast.
9. Hugh is happy that he met Deb before he became famous.
He shared why to Ellen DeGeneres in 2016 .
“Because,” he said, “everything that’s happened in my career and on-screen, off-screen, we’ve always done it together.”
Aww. Could he be a sweeter husband??
10. Their secret to a long, healthy marriage is through having a pact.
“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,” Hugh shared to WHO magazine.
“Those crossroads are sometimes big, sometimes they’re small, sometimes you don’t even realise they’re crossroads until you look back,” he continued.
In those moments, they ask if these choices will be good or bad for the family and for their marriage.
11. Deb never wanted to date another actor.
Just before she met Hugh, she made a New Year’s resolution with herself.
She said, “I am not dating any actors, and definitely not under 30,” she told the Aussies in Hollywood podcast.
12. Hugh proposed after four months of dating.
Hey, when you know, you know.
They got married on April 11, 1996. Just this past April, the couple celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary.
“These 24 years have been the best of my life! And, as far as I can see, we keep getting better,” Hugh shared on Instagram.
13. They have marriage rules to keep them afloat.
This includes not being apart for more than two weeks, and not taking on big projects if they don’t really need the money.
The structure seems to work for them; more Hollywood couples should do this!
14. Hugh considers Deb his “rock.”
The actor will literally never stop saying sweet things about his wife.
“Even at the Oscars, I walk out, I put my hand on my heart and I always look to Deb in the audience,” he told Jess Cagle on People TV .
“Straight afterwards, I will not see anybody in my dressing room until Deb’s been in,” he continued.
Our heart!
“Because that is my foundation, that is the rock, that is the foundation of our family, and therefore my life.”
15. Hugh lives his life with one simple motto in mind.
Hugh has said on multiple occasions that the secret to a long and happy marriage all boils down to this: “happy wife , happy life.”
They’ve been going strong for 24-plus years, so clearly it’s working.
16. They’re getting tired of having to constantly defend Hugh’s sexuality.
Over the years, Hugh and Deb’s marriage has come under fire in the media. Many have accused the two of having a sham marriage for appearances only.
Come on, people — it’s 2021! Can’t straight men enjoy singing, dancing, and musicals, too?
17. Hugh and Deborra never go to sleep angry at one another.
Another rule that Hugh and Deb have adhered to over the course of their marriage is to never allow themselves to leave an argument unresolved before bed.
The logic being that if you go to sleep mad, you’re going to wake up mad.
18. Hugh and Deb are always 100% genuine with one another.
Being open and honest at all times is paramount with Hugh and Deb. It’s about embracing every aspect of the person you’re with, even the parts that you may find embarrassing or even unlikable at times.
Hugh echoed his feelings during an interview with *Hello Magazine*.
“I think relationships, you gotta be yourself , even the bits you don’t love, the bits you’re embarrassed about or things you did wrong.”
Hugh continues on and says that, “if you’re in a situation where you can be yourself and really be honest, that’s a good start.”
19. Deb gets a lot of enjoyment from Hugh’s dramatic range.
Deb was once asked if she preferred the hulking superhero version of her husband or if she was more partial to the singing and dancing alter ego.
She joked that she enjoys both because it allows her to have affairs with different characters.
20. Deb keeps Hugh humble.
After being named People ‘s “Sexiest Man Alive,” Hugh told MammaMia that he arrived home, magazine in hand, proclaiming that the sexiest man alive was now home.
To which Deb replied, “Terrific. Could the sexiest man alive take the garbage out, please?”
