Courtney Allan
Movies

Hugh Jackman reveals: The “pretty simple but powerful choice” that saved my marriage

Hugh Jackman, 50 and his wife, Deborra-lee Furness, 63, are one of Hollywood’s most successful couples.

Jackman, who is currently in Australia on his The Man. The Music. The Show. tour, recently revealed the “simple but powerful choice” that he made to his wife back when they were younger and before they had children.

In an extract from The Father Hood: Inspiration for the New Dad Generation, a new book about fatherhood with letters penned from various celebrities, Hugh made a pact with his wife. The extract was published in this week’s WHO magazine.

He wrote: “Before we had kids, Deb and I made a pretty simple but powerful choice to look each other in the eye at every crossroads in life. Those crossroads are sometimes big, sometimes they're small, sometimes you don't even realise they are crossroads until you look back.

“But at those moments, we said we'd ask each other, ‘Is this good or bad for our marriage?’ Or, now that we've got kids, ‘Is this good or bad for our family?’

“And as often as possible, we do the thing that is good for our family.”

Jackman revealed to People Magazine that “intimacy” is key to a happy marriage.

“Without a doubt, it is the most important thing.

“People talk about intimacy and assume that means in the bedroom. Of course it is that, but really, intimacy is being able to share everything together – good, bad, fears, successes.

“Deb and I had that from the beginning. We've always been completely ourselves with each other.”

The book features chapters written by Osher Günsberg, Mark Wahlberg, Ben Stiller, David Beckham, Tim Cahill, John Krasinski, Steve "Commando" Willis and many more other prolific celebrities who explain how fatherhood has changed and shaped their lives.

Tags:
hugh jackman, movies, parenting, wife, partner, marriage