For two decades Hugh Jackman’s sexuality has come under question, with the rumour mill going into overdrive when he split from his wife last year.
This week, his alleged new romance was revealed, with sources saying that Jackman is dating Broadway legend Sutton Foster, 49, and they have been ‘spending all of their free time together’.
Despite repeatedly stating that is heterosexual, baseless rumours that he is gay have swirled for years, with Jackman fuelling the whispers himself by poking fun at the speculation.
He has also addressed the origin of the claims, believing they date back to a role he played in 2003.
At the time, Jackman, 56, was was happily married to Deborra-Lee Furness, 68, but was playing openly gay singer-songwriter Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz on Broadway.
Speaking about taking on the role at the time, he mused: ‘Some people said, “It’s brave of you to play a gay man.” And I think that’s very dated. Don’t you?’
During the production he had to kiss male co-star Jarrod Emick on stage, and reflecting on the moment he thinks sparked the rumours, Jackman shared: ‘I was literally just locking lips… I started to laugh so hard.
‘So I stay kissing him, because I thought, “I’m just going to laugh. I’m going to stay here until it subsides,” and it never subsided and the whole audience could see my body shaking, so they started.’
He added during the interview in 2018: ‘Some dudes do get upset, some dudes say, “Don’t say I’m gay,” [but] I am good.’
When The Boy from Oz finished its tenure on Broadway and began showing in Australia in 2006, Jackman was no longer required to kiss his on-stage lover.
Addressing the decision to remove the kiss, his new co-star Murray Bartlett explained: ‘We just wanted to keep it very simple and very pure.’
The same-sex kiss was not part of the original musical when it first launched Down Under in 1998, and was only added to the script when the production began on Broadway in 2003.
Jackman has been revered by the gay community and became an instant pin-up when pictures emerged of him enjoying shirtless runs on the beach with his handsome personal trainer.
The vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights most recently addressed his sexuality during his one man show, The Man. The Music. The Show in 2019.
Addressing the crowd at London’s O2 Arena, Jackman, 56, winked and said: ‘I know what you’re all thinking… is he? Isn’t he… [pauses for effect]… Australian?’
While he hasn’t been fazed by the rumours, Jackman confessed he worried about how it would affect his wife.
Speaking on 60 Minutes, he shared: ‘It’s, to me, not the most interesting thing about a person, anyway. I do get frustrated for Deb, cause I see Deb go, “Ah, this is just crazy!”‘
Furness addressed the rumours on Anh’s Brush with Fame, rolling her eyes and exclaiming: ‘I see these magazines and they’re so mean-spirited… I hope people realise it’s all made up.
She added: ‘[Hugh’s] been gay for so many years, I was gay too when I did [the 1988 film] Shame. They were shocked when I got married.
‘It’s just wrong. It’s like someone saying to Elton John, “Oh he’s straight.” I’m sure he’d be p**sed!
‘And so what! What are we discussing here… Is he a vegetarian… Is he gay?’
During another chat on the Not an Overnight Success podcast, Deborra-Lee said: ‘I mean, hello guys – if he was gay, he could be gay!
‘He didn’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!’
She continued: ‘It’s so silly, and then people perpetuate silly things and it’s boring.’
The couple met on the set of Australian TV show Correlli in 1995. They tied the knot just 11 months later and adopted two children, son, Oscar, 23, and daughter, Ava, 19, in 2005.
Last year, they revealed they had separated after 27 years of marriage – sparking a fresh wave of rumours about Hugh’s sexuality.
