Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness have been a beloved Hollywood couple for nearly three decades, and their family has always been at the forefront of their priorities. The couple, who recently announced their separation, share two children, Oscar and Ava, whom they adopted in 2000 and 2005, respectively.
A Family Built on Love
The couple met on the set of the Australian series Correlli in 1995 and tied the knot on April 11, 1996. After experiencing miscarriages and IVF, they decided to adopt, a decision that was not taken lightly. “It was not easy. It was difficult, obviously particularly on Deb,” Jackman shared in a 2017 interview with PEOPLE. “I remember saying to her, ‘We were always going to adopt — let’s just adopt now.’ “
Their motivation behind adopting was simple: “Where is the need?” Jackman explained. “And we just knew from talking with people in that space, when we were looking around, that the biggest need is in mixed-race kids.”
This decision would change their lives forever, and they welcomed their son, Oscar, in 2000, and their daughter, Ava, in 2005.
Oscar Maximilian Jackman, 23
Oscar, born in May 2000, is the couple’s first child. Growing up, Jackman and Furness made a conscious effort to honor his heritage. “When my son was younger, he found out he was part Bosnian, so we went and got this Croatian/Bosnian cookbook and he was very proud to carry that around when he was 7 years old,” Furness shared in a 2020 interview with PEOPLE.
As Oscar grew up, his parents were aware of the pressures that came with having a famous father. “There is a normalcy that I was used to [growing up] that they’re not,” Jackman said in 2006. “To be Wolverine’s son can be a huge burden.
My dad was an accountant and I thought it was cool, but no one cared.” Despite these challenges, Oscar has grown into a young man who is not afraid to discuss difficult subjects, including mental health, with his father.
Ava Eliot Jackman, 18
Ava, born on July 10, 2005, brought new joy to the Jackman-Furness family. Shortly after her birth, Jackman spoke about being a father of two, saying, “You’re a little more relaxed… And it’s a different dynamic having a girl, but both are wonderful and I’m so blessed to have a beautiful boy and girl.” He added, “I hold her and think, ‘I don’t want you to face anything bad ever in your life.’ “
As Ava grew up, her parents were mindful of her screen time, implementing a rule of no screens during the week. “Kids nowadays have very little time,” Jackman explained in a 2011 interview. “They seem to be at school longer than ever.
They have all sorts of after school activities. By the time you have eaten and showered and dressed, it is over. So there is not much time for it anyway.”
Teaching Values and Embracing Heritage
Throughout their children’s lives, Jackman and Furness have instilled in them the importance of gratitude and giving back. “My kids have so many advantages,” Jackman said in a 2018 interview. “And I want them to know that they have a responsibility to use those advantages to help others.”
He added, “My kids are constantly reminded about how lucky we are in our family. We’re ridiculously blessed. We live in a beautiful home in places that other people dream of.”
The couple has also made a conscious effort to teach their children about their cultural backgrounds. “My daughter has a Mexican lineage, so we’ve been to Mexico,” Furness shared in a 2020 interview.
“What I’m very interested in is epigenetics, and it’s even more so when you have adopted children because I’m coming from my lineage of my mother, how she parented me, how her mother parented her, and I’m translating that to my children.”
She added, “We completely embrace the ancestors and the extended family; they’re family to us. And it’s in there, even though it’s generational. It may be subtle, but it’s in there.”
A Family’s Love and Legacy
Despite the challenges that come with being a Hollywood family, Jackman and Furness have always put their children first. “It’s so interesting being a parent, and they’ve both made me smarter than I think I ever could have been on my own,” Furness said in a 2020 interview.
“But when you’re a parent, you can’t lie to them or yourself. They will shine a light on every one of your flaws, your Achilles heel, whatever. You’ve got to look at yourself.”
As Oscar and Ava continue to grow and thrive, their parents’ love and guidance will always be a constant in their lives. “When your focus is innately, deeply, one hundred percent become these kids in your life and their well-being, it just seems to put everything into perspective,” Jackman said in a 2019 interview. “Being a father has taught me so much.”
FAQs
When did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness adopt their children?
They adopted Oscar in 2000 and Ava in 2005.
Why did Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness decide to adopt?
They decided to adopt because they experienced miscarriages and IVF, and they wanted to give a loving home to a child in need.
How close are Hugh Jackman’s kids?
Like many siblings, Oscar and Ava seem to have a typical bond – they support each other, tease each other, and hold a unique place in each other’s lives.
