Hugh Jackman and Wife Deborra-Lee Furness' Marriage Timeline

Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra-Lee Furness‘ marriage is like something out of a romance novel. In fact, a timeline of the Wolverine actor’s relationship with the Australian actress proves the two share one of the strongest bonds in all of Hollywood.

“There was something that clicked between us right away,” he exclusively told Closer Weekly in April 2018. “It was the feeling you get when you sense this connection that tells you this is the kind of woman you want in your life.”

Because Hugh adores his spouse so much, he finds any reason to marvel over their special bond on social media. In July 2020, he uploaded a rare throwback of the longtime lovebirds from 2002. Months later in November, the Greatest Showman star paid tribute to his “incredible wife” with a photo of her blowing out some candles on her birthday.

“Your courage, wit, open-heartedness, loyalty, creativity, joie de vivre, cheekiness and spontaneity inspire me every day,” Hugh sweetly penned via Instagram. “I love you so much more than any caption can convey.”

The Golden Globe winner and the Shame actress have been going strong for over two decades, but it hasn’t always been so easy. Aside from having to juggle their hectic Hollywood careers, Hugh and Deb are also the loving parents of their two kids, Oscar Jackman and Ava Jackman.

In order to maintain their unbreakable bond, Hugh and his love constantly prioritize their personal lives over their professional ones. The Real Steel actor also noted it’s important to “reset” in your marriage and “make time for each other.”

“We’re always learning and humans change so you have to, even though we’ve been together [since 1995], you gotta reset all the time,” he explained to People in March 2020. “I’m always reeling in how funny she is and how amazing she is and how smart she is. The longer it goes on the better it gets.”

There’s no doubt Hugh feels lucky to have Deb as his wife, but the feeling couldn’t be more mutual for the Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole actress. “He makes me laugh. He’s hilarious,” Deb sweetly told Us Weekly of her hubby. “Not as funny as me, but he’s good. I give him all his best material!”

Scroll through the gallery below to see a complete timeline of Hugh and Deb’s romance!

1995

Hugh and Deb first met on the set of the Australian TV show Correlli in 1995. This was years before the actor became known as an international movie star thanks to his role in the iconic X-Men franchise throughout the 2000s.

At the time they crossed paths, Hugh had just landed his first professional gig, while Deb was already widely known as a star in Australia. Looking back, the hunk dished he was nervous about giving his first impression.

“Deb, she was a big star. I get picked up, and Deb is in the front seat of the car. I’ll never forget,” he once recalled to People. “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.'”

2000

After repeated miscarriages and multiple failed attempts with in vitro fertilization, Hugh and Deb adopted their eldest son, Oscar, following his birth in 2000.

“Deb and I always wanted to adopt. So that was always in our plan,” the Les Misérables actor once candidly shared with Katie Couric. “We didn’t know where in the process that would happen, but biologically obviously, we tried and it was not happening for us and it is a difficult time.”

2005

The couple adopted their second child, daughter Ava, in 2005. Even though Hugh and Deb always yearned to have biological kids, they “don’t think” of Oscar and Ava as anything but their “children.”

“We feel things happened the way they are meant to,” he sweetly shared with the Herald Sun in 2011. “Obviously, biologically wasn’t the way we were meant to have children. Now, as we go through life together, sure there are challenges, but everyone’s in the right place with the right people. It sounds airy-fairy, but it’s something we feel very deeply.”

2020

After 24 years of marriage, Deb couldn’t feel more blessed to have Hugh by her side. While appearing on Anh’s Brush With Fame in September 2020, the Last of the Finest actress recalled the moment when she knew the Logan actor was “The One.”

“He said he knew two weeks,” Deb sweetly shared, noting she first felt the mutual feeling during a “dinner party” in 1995.

“I remember saying to him [as] he was cooking … I sat in the kitchen and I said, ‘You haven’t been coming to my trailer,’ because we used to hang out,” she explained. “And he goes, ‘Yeah, yeah, I know, I haven’t.’ He [then] said, ‘I got a crush on you.’ And when he said that, I went, ‘I got a crush on you too.'”

No wonder these two are still going strong!

2021

Hugh paid tribute to his 25th wedding anniversary with Deb by sharing a touching post on Instagram. The Prisoners actor penned a lovely message to his wife alongside a handful of throwback pics from their 1996 wedding day.

“Being married to you, Deb, is as natural as breathing. From nearly the moment we met … I knew our destiny was to be together,” he gushed. “In our 25 years, our love has only grown deeper. The fun, excitement and adventure more exhilarating; the learning even greater. I’m forever grateful to share our love, our life and our family together. We’ve only just begun. Deb, I love you with all my heart!”