Hugh Jackman and wife of 27 years Deborra-Lee hit back at rumours that still plague their relationship

Hugh Jackson and Deborra-Lee Furness have spoken out against rumours which have plagued their relationship.

The Greatest Showman actor and Stark star first met in 1995 on Australian TV series Corelli, before getting married on 11 April 1996.

Despite a 27-year long marriage, rumours have continued to plague their relationship, with some even branding it a 'sham' to cover up Jackson's alleged sexuality, all because some people basically don't think it's possible for a man to be in a musical and not be gay.

In 2011, Furness became aware of the rumours swirling around their relationship as a result of questions raised by fans about Jackman's sexuality.

She told Page Six in November the same year: "The line I heard was, 'Wolverine? Who would have thought?'"

However, she noted neither her nor Jackman paid 'much heed' to the whispers and simply viewed it as 'kind of tragic that these people have nothing better to do than gossip about people they don't know'.

Alas, the rumours continued and Jackman admitted in February 2013 that they would sometimes 'bug' Furness.

He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2013: "She goes: 'It's big. It's everywhere!'"

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Responding to the rumours surrounding his sexuality, Jackman shot them down once and for all in July 2013 during an appearance on 60 Minutes broadcast on Nine Network, Australia.

He simply stated: "If I was [gay], I would be."

While noting the rumours didn't faze him so much, because someone's sexuality is simply 'not the most interesting about a person anyway' to him, the Wolverine actor noted he does get 'frustrated' on Furness' behalf.

In response to people speculating Jackman is gay and his and Furness' marriage is just a front, she said: "It is just wrong, it’s like, it’s a lie. It’s just offensive.

"If he was gay, fine, he would say he’s gay. It has gotten so out of whack… It’s stupid, yeah, it’s annoying, because it’s not true."

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Ultimately, Furness sees any speculation as 'mean-spirited' and hopes anyone who sees the rumours realises 'it's all made up'.

The rumours were particularly spurred on after Jackman played the role of iconic gay singer Peter Allen in musical The Boy From Oz - with people clearly unable, or simply not wanting to, distinguish the difference between theatre and reality.

Thankfully, Furness can still see the funny side and with 27 years of marriage in the bag, the pair are clearly solid.

In 2020, she joked: "[Hugh’s] been gay for so many years. I was gay, too, when I did [my 1988 film] Shame. They were shocked when I got married."

And last year, she made light of the rumours again on the Not an Overnight Success podcast, saying: "Hugh’s been gay for whatever, I mean, hello guys — if he was gay, he could be gay!”

Adding: “He [wouldn’t] have to hide in the closet anymore, and he’d be dating Brad Pitt, or whatever. Not that Brad’s gay, but you know what I’m saying!”