After 27 years of marriage, Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-lee Furness have decided to separate.

We have been privileged to enjoy over three decades as husband and wife in a lovely, loving marriage, the pair said in an exclusive statement to People that was released on Friday. We have chosen to split to pursue our growth our path is changing right now.

“Our family has been and always will be our top priority,” the statement added. We begin the following chapter with a spirit of thanks, love, and kindness. As our family navigates this adjustment in our lives, we appreciate your compassion and respect for our privacy.

We have been privileged to enjoy over three decades as husband and wife in a lovely, loving marriage, the pair said in an exclusive statement to People that was released on Friday. We have chosen to split for our growth since our path is changing right now.

“Our family has been and always will be our top priority,” the statement added. We begin the following chapter with a spirit of thanks, love, and kindness. As our family navigates this adjustment in our lives, we appreciate your compassion and respect for our privacy.

Oscar, 23

and Ava, 18, are the couple’s two children; they were married in 1996. They were married after dating for 11 months.

In a joint interview on the “Aussies in Hollywood” podcast in 2018, the Australian pair recalled how they first met, what it was like to collaborate, and how Hugh knew she was “the one.”

“I quickly realized. Even when Deb tried to end our relationship, I knew before she did, Hugh said. “Thank God convincedince her to stay with me. Deb is extremely aware of my tendency toward indecision. The number of times anything has felt so obvious to me in my life I can count on one hand.

“I just knew 100%,” he went on. Even then, I was aware of her attempts to find an excuse to end our relationship. 

On their anniversary earlier that year, Hugh sent a tender letter to his longtime love.

In life, according to Jackmeve, we need to see and truly be seen by the most important people in our lives.” Deb, we had that from the beginning. It only gets worse 22 years later.

The best present I will ever receive is you and the kids, Jackman continued. “I have the world to love you a gazillion times over.”

“We have been blessed to share almost three decades as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” the pair write in a statement sent exclusively to PEOPLE. We have chosen to split to pursue our growth since our path is changing right now.

“Our family has always been and will always be our top focus. We begin the following chapter with a spirit of thanks, love, and kindness. As our family navigates this adjustment in our lives, we appreciate your compassion and respect for our privacy.

The costars quickly fell in love with one other after meeting in 1995 on the set of the Australian television series Corelli. Less than a year later, Deb, an accomplished actress, and Hugh, a newcomer actor just out of theatre school, got married.

She was a tremendous star, Deb:

Deb is in the driver’s seat when I’m picked up. Hugh, 54, recalled their initial meeting with PEOPLE in 2017 and said, “I’ll never forget.

“She unbuckled her seatbelt, turned around, held out her hand, removed her sunglasses, and introduced herself as Deborra-lee Furness, saying, “Hi, lovely to meet you. I distinctly recall thinking, “I like this chick.”

On April 11, 1996, the couple exchanged vows and over time they developed a devoted following in Hollywood.

The Greatest Showman actor sent a heartfelt tribute to Deb, 67, and their relationship on Instagram on their 27th wedding anniversary in April, saying in part, “I love you so much. Together, we have built a lovely family. plus life. Your passion, generosity, humor, cheekiness, bravery, and dedication to me are a tremendous gift.

In May, they made their most recent red carpet appearance at the Met Gala, and in July, they were present at Wimbledon’s men’s finals.

Hugh Celebrates 27th Wedding Anniversary:

Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman are commemorating another year together.

In an Instagram post published on Tuesday, Jackman, 54, and Furness, 67, were seen together. Hugh said that his wife’s “courage and loyalty is an incredible gift to me.”

“Deb, I adore you. Our 27th wedding anniversary is today. 27 YEARS!!” Hugh wrote in the post’s description. “I adore you a lot. Together, we have built a lovely family. also life.

“Your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humor, cheekiness, courage, and loyalty is an incredible gift to me,” he continued in the description. I’m saying, “I love you with all my heart.”

Australian television series:

On the set of her Australian television series Correlli, Hugh and Furness initially became acquainted. They later were married there in April 1996. The Logan actor admitted to PEOPLE in 2017 that after meeting Furness, he knew she was the one right away.

“I was aware long before Deb was aware. I knew even when she tried to end our relationship,” he claimed. She “sort of broke up with me,” she said. three weeks in, early. Thank God I was able to persuade her out of it.

At that moment, he continued, “Deb truly understands this about me, I’m an indecisive guy. There have only been a handful of occasions in my life when anything has seemed so obvious to me, and when it does, it is such a relief.

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On significant occasions and anniversaries, Hugh routinely posts homage to Furness on Instagram, most recently on Valentine’s Day in February. On social media at the time, the Greatest Showman actor praised Furness’ “humor, generosity, wisdom, and spirit shines so bright.”
“Lovely Valentine’s Day. Wherever you go, you light up the room, the actor captioned the picture of him and Furness, who were both wearing identical black clothes.

Hugh said, “Your humor, generosity, wisdom, and spirit shine so bright.” “On this, our 28th Valentine’s Day together, I honor you. I ❤️ you.”

Furness, who has a son named Oscar and a daughter named Ava with Hugh, spoke to PEOPLE back in November 2020 about the value of family and said, “Family, to me, means you feel safe.”

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