Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness weren’t shy about defending their marriage before they called it quits in 2023.

The Greatest Showman actor crossed paths with Furness on the set of the TV series Corelli in 1995. They wed one year later in April 1996.

“When I met Deb, it was 10 times better than my single life. She was very beautiful. She was unbelievably fun — this energy, this spirit — irrepressible,” Jackman told The Hollywood Reporter in February 2013. “And she had a confidence in herself. I had a massive crush on her instantly.”

However happy the pair were, the X-Men star and Furness dealt with rumors about their age gap and Jackman’s sexuality. He even told THR that the speculation still “bugged” Furness after 17 years together.

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Jackman and Furness, who share son Oscar and daughter Ava, ultimately announced in September 2023 that they had separated.

Scroll down to see everything Jackman and Furness  said in defense of their marriage —  including why the rumors were “offensive” to them both:

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