Red Flags In Sutton Foster And Hugh Jackman's Relationship - Glam
Hugh Jackman shocked the world with his separation from Deborra-Lee Furness. Now, his new relationship with Sutton Foster may have some big red flags.
By Feb. 6, 2025 9:00 am EST
When news broke that "Deadpool & Wolverine" star Hugh Jackman was separating from his wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, in 2023, it's safe to say that many folks were left speechless. "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," the two announced in a joint statement (via People).
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But when Jackman began dating his "The Music Man" co-star Sutton Foster earlier this year, we couldn't help but wonder if the fact that they worked together on the musical's Broadway revival throughout the early 2020s had something to do with Jackman's separation. For further insight, we talked to New York City-based relationship expert Susan Winter, the author behind the bestselling book "Breakup Triage: The Cure for Heartache." Exclusively for Glam, Winter shares what some of the couple's potential red flags might be.
Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman began their romance as a proximity relationship
The first red flag that Susan Winter points out to us is the fact that the two Hollywood stars probably fell in love while working together on "The Music Man," a musical revival that premiered on Broadway in February 2022. "Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster's affair began as a proximity relationship," Winter explains exclusively to Glam. "Working on stage together for two years creates a strong bond of intimacy and 'sense' of knowing each other."
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There are many things to consider before dating a co-worker, especially in Hollywood, where dating someone you work with is pretty common. Despite them being abundant, Winter advises against these types of romances because they can easily fall apart once the couple faces the real world. "Relationships born of situational romance can end just as quickly as they began," the expert tells us. "The location and conditions of how a couple finds their way to love is aided by the bubble in which they were living. Once removed from the bubble, these couples often struggle to create the same level of intimacy and urgency." However, whether Jackman and Foster's romance is fleeting or here for the long haul is something only time will reveal.
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Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster's relationship timeline feels rushed after their recent separations
Just like Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster had also just gone through a separation before she began dating the "The Greatest Showman" star. In fact, while Jackman separated from his wife in 2023, Foster only finalized her divorce toward the end of 2024. Some may even consider the couple's romance a rebound — and we all know that catching feelings in a rebound fling is challenging. "The timeline for this affair has led to speculation that the relationship began long before either Jackman or Foster were single again," Susan Winter shares exclusively with Glam. "Jackman announced his separation from his wife in September 2023, while Foster's divorce from her husband wasn't finalized until October 2024," she adds. Apart from this, at the time of writing, neither Jackman nor his wife have filed for divorce, so according to the law, the two are still together.
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Again, Winter explains that while we're all speculating just when Jackman and Foster began developing feelings for each other, it isn't much of a stretch to think that it may have been while they were both still in official relationships. "Considering their shared time working on 'The Music Man' from 2021 to 2023, it seems plausible that their current relationship may have stemmed from a prior emotional or romantic affair," the expert says.
The nature of the industry isn't working in Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman's favor
Hollywood relationships that start on sets don't have that great of a track record. Even those who don't keep up with the glitzy world of the movie industry know that actors often spend countless hours working on scenes that often require them to play — and have — romantic partners, and, well, this can easily lead to them eventually thinking they've found the right person off-screen, too.
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"On-stage and on-camera affairs are rampant," Susan Winter tells Glam exclusively. "Situational romances like these occur frequently in the entertainment business. That's why so many of us marvel that certain Hollywood couples have stayed married for 20+ years." In this vein, the fact that Jackman was with his wife for over two decades is a rarity in this industry. "Remaining together is unique given the nature of this industry," the expert adds. "Long periods away from spouses and the constant presence of new romantic possibilities creates tempting opportunities for these types of romances."
Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman might have differing power dynamics in the industry
Both Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are talented actors who are passionate about their careers, but the fact that Jackman is much more famous than Foster could cause some friction between the two stars.
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"Jackman is a superstar. Foster is talented but certainly not yet a household name," Susan Winter explains exclusively to Glam. "We assume that couples in the same field can better understand each other and therefore offer mutual support. However, as seen in many Hollywood relationships, love can morph into competition and jealousy when career advancements and opportunities are unevenly timed." Of course, this doesn't have to be a reason for their love to fall apart, but it can certainly put some additional pressure on Foster, as she might feel like she's worth less than her superstar boyfriend at some point.
Now, if you're craving some more expert scoop on potential celebrity relationship drama, check out the red flags in Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey's relationship from our love coach.
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