Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster have taken their friendship into romance, making their red carpet debut at the AFI FEST screening of Song Sung Blue in Hollywood on October 26, 2025. This public display of their relationship highlights a significant step forward for the couple, who have been in the spotlight due to their evolving personal lives and celebrated careers, with the focus firmly on Hugh Jackman Sutton Foster.
Their Public Debut and Recent Appearances
The couple, both 50 and above, appeared together on the red carpet dressed in coordinated black ensembles—Hugh in a classic black suit and Sutton in a stylish black slip dress. Their chemistry was evident as they posed closely, with subtle gestures of affection marking their appearance. This event closely followed another public outing when they attended the Fetch Pet Gala in New York on October 20, 2025, holding hands and again matching in black attire. These appearances reflect their comfort in sharing their relationship with the public after confirming their romance earlier in January.
From Friendship to Romance Amid Personal Changes
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster have a long history of friendship that transitioned into romance in early 2025 after they were seen showing public affection during a dinner in Santa Monica. Their relationship coincides with significant personal transitions: Sutton filed for divorce from Ted Griffin, with whom she shares an eight-year-old daughter, Emily, finalized in October 2024. Similarly, Jackman ended his 27-year marriage to Deborra-Lee Furness in 2023, finalizing their separation the following year. These changes set a backdrop for the couple’s newfound relationship, supported by years of strong friendship and professional collaboration.
Before their romance became public, Sutton praised Hugh’s character and work ethic in a 2022 Vogue interview:
“He has an impeccable reputation of being the hardest working man, incredibly kind, and generous—and all of that is true,”
Sutton shared.
“He’s now become one of my best friends, which was a surprise, because you usually go into these things thinking, ‘Well, I hope we get along.’”
Early Encounters and Growing Connection
Their professional paths crossed for more than two decades before dating. In 2002, long before their collaboration in The Music Man, Jackman attended Sutton’s performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie, which earned her a Tony Award. Sutton recalled to Broadway.com that while they had met several times, they had never worked directly together until much later.
In 2008, Jackman supported Foster backstage during her role as Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, capturing a moment with fellow cast members John Tartaglia and Christopher Sieber. Later, at the 2014 Tony Awards where Jackman was the host, they shared an iconic dance alongside other nominees in the Best Leading Actress in a Musical category, a memory Sutton fondly shared on Instagram with the caption, This happened.
Collaborations Leading up to The Music Man
Although Sutton did not appear in Jackman’s 2017 film, The Greatest Showman, she participated in a few workshops, reconnecting with Jackman briefly. Their partnership deepened in 2019 when Jackman was cast as Harold Hill in the Broadway revival of The Music Man, and he revealed Sutton would star opposite him as Marian by posting a throwback from the 2014 Tonys, announcing on social media,
“For our next dance … Sutton Foster is #Marian.”
They began workshops for the show in March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced Broadway’s temporary closure, delaying the production’s debut. Rehearsals resumed in October 2021, with both stars publicly sharing clips of their preparation and dance practices. Jackman took to Instagram, celebrating Sutton’s talent and friendship:
“There are hundreds who’ve made this moment happen. But there’s one in particular I pay tribute to – @suttonlenore, this show is nothing without you. You’re an exceptional talent and friend. Your joy brings the entire company of @musicmanbway to life. I can’t wait for the world to see you as ‘Marian.’ They are in for an explosion of awesome.”
Successes of The Music Man and Friendship Bonds
The Music Man officially opened in February 2022, with Jackman and Foster again appearing together on the red carpet. Sutton expressed her admiration for Jackman on Instagram after opening night, writing, This man, and added:
“An honor to be by your side. You. Are. The. BEST.”
Despite initial nervousness about working together, their professional collaboration blossomed into a deep friendship.
Foster emphasized Jackman’s humility and kindness in a June 2022 Vogue interview, reflecting on how their friendship grew stronger:
“He disarms everyone, and he doesn’t make anything about him. And he’s now become one of my best friends, which was a surprise, because you usually go into these things thinking, Well, I hope we get along. But we just spent Memorial Day with our families. It’s really fun to meet new friends after 40.”
In fact, Sutton’s daughter Emily affectionately refers to Jackman as “Uncle Hugh,” which she explained to Broadway.com:
“She was like, ‘Is Uncle Hugh coming?’ or whatever. And I’m like, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ He’s just part of the family.”
Award Celebrations and Continued Collaborations in 2022
Throughout 2022, Jackman and Foster continued to celebrate their work on The Music Man. At the Drama League Awards in May, Jackman received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre honor, while Foster earned the Distinguished Performance Award. Sutton praised Jackman’s support, sharing:
“Here he is, stopping the curtain call at @musicmanbway last night to make a special announcement because he had ‘something very special’ to tell everyone.”
The pair also attended the 2022 Tony Awards, where the show received six nominations, marking a career milestone for both.
Personal Life Transitions Amid Career Highlights
The final performance of The Music Man was held in January 2023, coinciding with significant life changes for Jackman and Foster. In September 2023, Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness announced their separation after 27 years of marriage, emphasizing their mutual respect and continued commitment to co-parenting their children, Oscar and Ava.
They shared a statement with People magazine:
“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.”
They added:
“Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.”
Despite the split, Jackman and Furness appeared to maintain a positive relationship, celebrating Jackman’s 55th birthday together in New York.
In October 2024, Sutton Foster filed for divorce from Ted Griffin, ending their ten-year marriage. Following public speculation, Jackman and Foster appeared to confirm their relationship in January 2025 when they were spotted holding hands in Santa Monica after Jackman attended Sutton’s final show of Once Upon a Mattress in Los Angeles. The couple’s appearances grew more frequent, with Foster supporting Jackman during his residency at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
Reflections on Growth and Healing
Jackman’s ex-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, reflected candidly on her journey through the end of their marriage in an interview with DailyMail.com. She acknowledged the profound pain of betrayal but shared her belief in a higher power guiding such experiences:
“My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal. 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.”
She emphasized the lessons learned through adversity, advocating for integrity and personal boundaries as a path to freedom:
“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. It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.”
Furness concluded with a reflection on relationships and personal growth:
“The one thing I learned is none of this is personal. We are all on our individual journeys and I believe that the relationships in our lives are not random. We are drawn to people, we invite them in, in order to learn our lessons and to recognize and heal the broken parts of ourselves.”
Looking Forward: A New Chapter for the Couple
As Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster’s relationship comes into the public eye, their journey reflects resilience and evolution amid personal transitions. Both respected artists with decades of experience, their partnership symbolizes not just a romantic connection but a deep friendship forged through shared professional and personal milestones. Their relationship may influence their future projects and public appearances, as fans and industry observers watch this new chapter unfold with hope and curiosity.
