Hugh Jackman’s Friend Says the Actor Is ‘Moving on With His Life’ as Deborra-Lee Furness Speaks About ‘Betrayal’

Hugh Jackman’s childhood friend is speaking out about the actor’s “difficult” split from ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

Nearly two years after announcing their separation in September 2023, Furness has officially filed for divorce from the 56-year-old actor and released a statement about the “traumatic journey of betrayal,” sparking questions about Jackman’s current relationship with former Broadway costar Sutton Foster.

Now, Jackman’s childhood friend Gus Worland, founder of the “mental fitness” nonprofit Gotcha4Life, has weighed in on the “difficult” split during an appearance on the Ben Fordham Live radio show. Worland says he has been “best mates” with the Deadpool & Wolverine star since they were both in kindergarten, and that they are godparents to each other’s first-born children.

“It’s not just that statement, but just the last couple of years have been difficult,” Worland said of the divorce, per People. “No one wants anyone to go through what they’ve been through, and of course, they go through everything publicly because of the type of people [they are] and the fame that they have.”

Throughout the brief radio conversation, Worland spoke about maintaining his relationship with both Jackman and Furness, saying he’s been “strict” about “[letting] them do what they’ve had to do.”

After spending time with Jackman last month, Worland said the actor is “moving on with his life.” As many fans of the Marvel star know, Jackman confirmed his relationship with Foster in January 2025, though rumors of their relationship began surfacing as early as December 2023.

“He’s fine. He is going along well,” Worland says. “He’s moving on with his life and I hope that Deb does as well.”

Ultimately, he says the pair were together a “long, long time,” adding, “I just go to the kids and go, ‘What can we do to make sure that they’re going to get through this as well as possible?’”

Jackman and Furness met on the set of the Australian TV series Corelli in 1995 and were married a year later, in April 1996. They share two children: Oscar, 25, and Ava, 19. After 27 years of marriage the pair announced their separation in a joint statement in September 2023.