Hugh Jackman Is a Proud Dad of Two Mixed-Race Adopted Kids —His Daughter Is ‘So Like’ His Ex

Hugh Jackman and his ex Deborra-Lee Furness share two kids, Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18. Jackman and Furness announced in early September 2023 that they were separating after almost three decades as husband and wife.

The two had been married for 27 years and noted that their separation was amicable, as their journey was shifting, forcing them to pursue individual growth. Jackman and Furness said their family will remain their highest priority.

On the pair's 27th anniversary, a few months before they announced their separation, Jackman shared a sweet post celebrating Furness. “I love you so much. Together we created a beautiful family. And life,” he wrote partly. He added that Furness' laughter, spirit, generosity, humor, cheekiness, loyalty, and courage were a wonderful gift to him.

Jackman and Furness met in 1995 on the set of the Australian drama series “Corelli,” where the actress was the lead. The series was the actor's first job after drama school, but Furness was already a big star whom everyone loved. When Furness greeted Jackman, the actor knew he really liked her and saw that she was absolutely beautiful.

However, Jackman didn't want to fall for the leading lady, so six weeks into the shoot, when he realized he had a crush on Furness, he didn't speak to her for a week.

But during a party the actor threw later, he admitted to Furness that he had a crush on her, and he was surprised to find out that the actress had a crush on him too. Their romance blossomed from that day.

During their marriage, the actor was devoted to his Furness and never shied from showering her with affection publicly. The 54-year-old is also a dedicated father who is often vocal about his love and joy of fatherhood and how he and Furness raise their two kids.

Jackman's Fatherhood Journey

Jackman and Furness tied the knot on April 11, 1996. The two expanded their family when they adopted Oscar in 2000 and Ava in 2005. “The Wolverine” actor said they always wanted to adopt, but after first having biological kids.

However, they went through a difficult time having biological kids. Jackman said their parenthood journey encompassed a couple of miscarriages and IVF. “It was not easy, it was difficult, particularly, obviously particularly on Deb,” he admitted.

Jackman pointed out that he and Furness had very opposite parenting styles.

Jackman and Furness decided to adopt because it was a step they were going to take anyway. The pair wanted a multiracial family, so they adopted multiracial kids. The “X-men” actor said most people, when they adopt, go for kids who look like them, which creates a huge gap for the adoption of multiracial kids.

Jackman and Furness wanted to help fill this gap so they went to adopt multiracial kids. For them, it wasn't an issue whether their kids looked like them or not.

Jackman also opened up about his kids when they were young, revealing their personalities. He said Oscar never wanted to go to school, but Ava loved school.

He added that his daughter is a lover of life and is “so like” Furness. Ava was fairly quiet and very independent as a baby, traits she shared with her mother. Jackman revealed that Ava would not be fed from when she turned six months old. Instead, she would feed herself, showcasing her independence.

Like Furness, Ava is also a lover of neatness. She would go around the house, closing drawers and picking things up. Jackman joked that their family didn't need a housekeeper because they had Ava. Ava would tell his dad that she loves to be neat.

Meanwhile, Jackman noted that Oscar loves the outdoors. He is a nature kid whose knowledge of the outdoors is unbelievable. Jackman said he is happiest with Oscar when they spend time in nature:

“When I'm hiking, camping, fire on the beach roasting marshmallows, out in the wood fishing, that kind of thing with him is when I see him at his most relaxed.”

Ava, just like her dad, is a lover of music and dance. In 2017, Jackman said he had been to four concerts with Ava, including an Ed Sheeran concert where father and daughter knew every word in every song of the singer. Jackman noted that spending time with Ava at these concerts was like “heaven” to him, adding:

“When I go to a concert with her and the two of us standing there and, literally, I turn somehow into a 12-year-old.”

Just like most kids, Jackman noted that his kids sometimes feel embarrassed when they see their dad doing something they find corny. The actor said when Ava was six, she would hide under a chair during theatre shows when her dad would sing to her mom. Ava finds theatre a little boring, while Oscar thinks it's interesting.

Apart from his kids' traits and personalities, Jackman also revealed the kind of father he is. The movie star said he is a strict parent because when his parents split, his dad, who was an accountant, raised seven kids in a very regimented way.

Jackman pointed out that he and Furness had very opposite parenting styles. Furness was raised with a single mom, and her mother wasn't strict. Thus, the 67-year-old took after her mother's parenting style, being lenient with Ava and Oscar.

Now, Jackman and Furness' romance has burned out. The actor was spotted for the first time after the two announced their separation, walking on the streets. When asked to comment about the individual growth he would be pursuing, Jackman politely declined, noting that it wasn't a good time.