The story sounds like something out of a movie: a famous actress marries a young, up-and-coming star, they become beloved figures in the entertainment industry, face ongoing speculation about his sexual orientation, enjoy many happy years together – and then shock everyone by announcing their separation.
It’s no wonder, then, that Deborra-Lee Furness has reportedly been offered significant sums of money to write a revealing memoir about her 27-year marriage to Hugh Jackman.
According to an insider who spoke to the Daily Mail, “Deborra-Lee has received numerous lucrative offers to write a tell-all book. There have been rumors circulating for a long time suggesting that their marriage was just for show, but they have always insisted that it was the real deal.
‘As soon as their break-up was announced, Deborra-Lee was inundated with mega-deals to write the truth about what it was like behind closed doors with Hugh.’
Furness, 69, could blow the lid off their marriage if she decides to take the money and spill intimate details about her relationship with Jackman, 56.
The estranged couple announced their bombshell separation in a joint statement in September 2023, explaining that they wanted ‘to pursue individual growth’.

Deborra-Lee Furness has been offered ‘huge amounts’ from ‘major publishing houses’ to write a tell-all memoir about her 27-year marriage to Hugh Jackman

A source has told the Daily Mail that Furness, 69, could get an eye-watering $100 million from their divorce (pictured together in 2022)
Their seemingly solid union – and Jackman’s Mr Nice Guy, squeaky-clean image – took a further hit when, just months later, he stepped out with younger Broadway co-star Sutton Foster.
Furness has yet to publicly address what led to the breakdown of the marriage but many are convinced that Jackman’s relationship with Foster, 50, was a factor.
Sources previously told the Daily Mail that Furness feared that they were embroiled in an emotional affair.
Her private Instagram activity raised eyebrows late last year when she ‘liked’ a video by gossip blogger Tasha Lustig, claiming that Jackman was ‘running off with the mistress’ and planning a ‘soft launch’ of their relationship.
Adding fuel to the fire, Furness’s close friend Amanda de Cadenet commented on the same post: ‘You are on point with this one. My beloved friend Deb is about to have her glow up any moment fyi!’
Furness also ‘liked’ the post.
Then, on Wednesday – five days after officially filing for divorce in New York on May 23 – Furness appeared to stick the knife in further as she broke her silence on coping with ‘betrayal’ in a blistering statement to the Daily Mail.
‘My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,’ she said. ‘It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.
‘This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage. I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose.

‘As soon as their break-up was announced, Deborra-Lee was inundated with mega-deals to write the truth about what it was like behind closed doors with Hugh,’ a source said

But Furness, pictured with her daughter Ava, 19, is keeping schtum, thanks to the handsome divorce settlement
‘It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.’
Publishers are now desperate to sign Furness, hoping she has a ‘scandalous’ story or two from their marriage for a new book.
The couple met in 1995 on the Australian TV show Correlli, when she was a major star, and he was enjoying his first role fresh out of drama school.
In their whirlwind romance, he proposed four months later because he knew two weeks into meeting her that they were ‘going to be together for the rest of our lives’.
They were married in Melbourne, Australia, in April 1996, adopted their son Oscar, now 24, in 2000, and completed their family with the adoption of daughter Ava, now 19, in 2005.
Since tying the knot, Jackman has amassed an eyewatering fortune, estimated to be around $200 million, thanks to his turn as Wolverine in Marvel’s blockbuster comic book franchise, affording the family a lavish lifestyle with multiple properties around the globe and a roster of celebrity friends, including fellow actor Ryan Reynolds.
But their marriage has long been plagued by baseless rumors about Jackman’s sexuality – speculation that he has repeatedly denied.
He has also addressed the origin of the claims, believing that they date back to 2003 when he was required to kiss his male co-star Jarrod Emick as the openly homosexual singer-songwriter Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz on Broadway.
‘It’s no secret after almost three decades of being wed to him, adopting two children together, Deborra-Lee has an intimate, interesting and maybe scandalous story to tell,’ our insider said.
And Furness wouldn’t be the first ex to put pen to paper and expose the intimate details of married life for cash.
Demi Moore’s Inside Out chronicled her, at times, toxic relationship with Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Simpson laid bare her marriage and divorce from Nick Lachey in her aptly named Open Book, and Pamela Anderson reclaimed her story as she divulged on her tumultuous marriage to Tommy Lee in Love, Pamela.
But, for now, Furness is keeping quiet – possibly because of a handsome divorce settlement, which the Daily Mail understands is in the region of $100 million.
‘So far she’s keeping mum,’ our source said. ‘She doesn’t need the money as she’s been very well taken care of in the divorce.’
The Daily Mail has approached both Furness and Jackman for comment.