As Broadway stars, Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster must remember that their once-not-so-secret love affair could lead on to great theater behind the scenes – perhaps punctuated by some bittersweet Stephen Sondheim-style ballads and stirring dance numbers Michael Bennett.

As Foster herself said, she and Jackman developed an in depth bond and reportedly much more so once they were married to other people and starred in a Broadway revival of “The Music Man” from late 2021 to early 2023. Foster, 49, explained in a 2022 interview that she and Jackman, 56, enjoyed private pre-performance meetings in her dressing room and sat on the carpet “catching up on our day.”

“We call it carpet chat,” Foster said.

But it has now been officially confirmed that those locker room conversations were about rather more than simply skilled ties. As a people magazine On Tuesday, the world was told that the previous “Music Man” co-stars were photographed the night before walking the streets of Santa Monica holding hands, laughing and staring into one another's eyes.

The Cut said the photos were of the brand new couple “High-gloss paparazzi debut” After keeping their romance an “open secret” in Broadway circles for several years – and maybe an actual secret to Jackman's longtime wife Deborah-lee Furness. In the photos, the couple seem like either unaware that they’re being photographed, or that they know and don't care.

In the autumn, New York tabloids and other media outlets began reporting that Jackman and Foster had begun a relationship through the run of The Music Man. In the classic musical revival, Jackman played con artist Harold Hill, who falls in love with Foster's librarian Marian Paroo.

The affair reports began when Tony Award-winning Foster filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin in October after 10 years of marriage – “amid rumors” that she was now dating Jackman.

The 12 months before, Jackman and Furness announced they were separating after 27 years of marriage, however the two spoke of their split as a mutual decision to “pursue our individual growth.”

However, following the flood of reports about Jackman's backstage romance with Foster, sources near Furness confirmed to entertainment media that the affair was “the reason for Hugh and Deb's divorce,” Us Weekly reported in November.

“A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it a secret because they're both such nice and great people,” the source continued to Us Weekly. “Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap.”

Furness also appeared to verify to herself that her husband's secret romance with Foster led to their divorce, Us Weekly reported. At one point, gossip blogger Tasha Lustig spilled “big tea” about Furness being “blindsided” by her husband's romance together with his co-star.

In an Instagram video, Lustig said the “Wolverine” star “blindsided” Furness, who had given him “her entire life and career,” by “eloping with the mistress.” On her personal account, Furness was among the many greater than 26,000 who viewed and “liked” Lustig's post, Us Weekly reported.

Additionally, Furness' close friend, British media personality Amanda de Cadenet, also commented on Lustig's claim, Us Weekly reported. “You’re right.”

Lustig also reported that Jackman and Foster planned to publicly “soft launch” their relationship.

It looks like this “soft launch” took place in the brand new 12 months. Ahead of Monday night's sighting, People reported that Jackman was spotted within the audience at a recent performance of Foster's “Once Upon a Mattress” on the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. He had the privilege of sitting next to comedy legend Carol Burnett, who originated Foster's role within the 1959 production of the show.

The Los Angeles production of Once Upon a Mattress definitely explains why New Yorkers Jackman and Foster were in Santa Monica on Monday night. People magazine reported that the 2 were photographed arriving at a restaurant in Santa Monica. Jackman was dressed casually, wearing a dark jacket over a gray shirt and white jeans, while Foster wore a brown trench coat over an olive dress.

People magazine won't reveal which restaurant they ate at. But in the case of a selected Italian restaurant in Santa Monica that's often known as a celeb hotspot, it's easy to assume that this “glossy paparazzi debut” might need been well thought out by Jackman, Foster and their publicists.

I don't often watch movies within the cinema, let alone horror movies. But a couple of weeks ago I saw “Heretic“, which fascinated me for private and skilled reasons.

I watched loads of Hugh Grant romantic comedies within the late Nineties and early 2000s. Today it’s me a scholar of gender and culture and religion, including Mormonism. And in “Heretic,” two Latter-day Saint missionaries knock on a door only to search out it opened by a personality named Mr. Reed, played by Grant himself.

As I sat within the theater, my mind wandered to the time recently once I watched the complete reality show.The Secret Lives of Mormon Women.”

Although the series differs significantly from the film, each often deal with the lives of ladies who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often called the Mormon Church. Less horror and more hot mess, the TV show sets up a conflict between a gaggle of mother friends who violate lots of their church's rules.

Nevertheless, each character sets reflect one another long-held tropes about women in art: depicted as virgins, moms or sinners in need of salvation. When characters have a spiritual background, their misdeeds are sometimes portrayed as rebellions against the constraints of their faith – evident in a Secret Lives of Mormon Wives episode titled “The Book of Sinners and Saints.”

In the filmReligion is commonly a path that audiences must grapple with Ideas about gender and social change. This is much more true if the faith is taken into account conservative or liable to stereotyping, each of which apply to Latter-day Saints. Female characters' dilemmas are sometimes portrayed consequently of their faith—but their characterization may say more concerning the remainder of America than the church itself.

“Secrets” and stereotypes

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Women,” that was renewed for a second season on Hulu in October 2024 is a reality show a few group of friends in Salt Lake City, where the Church of Latter-day Saints is headquartered.

Although many Americans know little concerning the church, Strong stereotypes persist: these members are healthyfor instance, and accept a family structure with a father who takes care of him and a superbly coiffed mother who stays at home. The show goals to point out how diverse the “secret lives” of Latter-day Saints may be, at the same time as certain characters within the show reflect stereotypes concerning the Church's expectations of ladies.

The Church teaches that members should avoid extramarital sex, Alcohol and caffeine. Nevertheless, many actors proceed to check all these boundaries or break them completely. Before the show began, for instance, the celebs gained a fan base on TikTok via the hashtag #MomTok – which then experienced a boom a “soft swinging” scandal Involvement of their social environment. During filming, one among the ladies is pregnant and never married to the daddy of her child.

These conflicts appear to pique the fascination of viewers, despite the indisputable fact that few people in a spiritual tradition follow its teachings perfectly. Questions about church regulations and Violation of the foundations occur time and again the subreddits dedicated to the show.

Maybe viewers act like women only have feelings in Utah special patriarchal pressure when it comes to money and appearance – including cosmetic surgery. they could conveniently forgotten that two of the most important Christian denominations within the United States, the Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, also ban women from holding leadership positions.

At one point early within the series, Whitney tries to determine whether to simply accept a sex toy company's offer to advertise their products and whether it aligns along with her values. She and the opposite women all grudgingly admit that they earn greater than their husbands, especially through such brand-name deals.

These tensions are hardly limited to spiritual communities. Many people outside of conservative beliefs struggle with the concept of ​​a girl being the first breadwinner of her family. Studies suggest this stands out as the case a better likelihood of divorce when wives earn greater than husbands, and that ladies who earn greater than their male partners are more prone to fake orgasms.

Perfect victims

In its own way, “Heretic” can be about power and control in addition to the oppression of ladies with or without religion. But while faith itself isn’t discussed here in “Secret Lives.” it’s the main target.

The film opens with two young women wearing the modest clothing of Latter-day Saint missionaries – a rite of passage for a lot of young people within the Church – and with name tags on their coats. They rode their bikes to see Mr. Reed, a person who expressed an interest of their faith. He invites her into his perfectly decorated house and says that his wife shall be joining them, although the one clue to her are mugs marked “Husband” and “Husband.”

Mr. Reed is enthusiastic about religion, but to not the extent the missionaries had hoped. He begins to lecture her concerning the supposedly false guarantees of faith and urges her to present up the concept her church has a monopoly on the reality. In particular, he insists that the Latter-day Saint tradition is bad for girls and persists in that tradition former practice of polygamy – while he himself begins to terrorize the young women, who realize that they have to discover a method to escape.

In my opinion, their plight is tied to broader ideas about gender—particularly discomfort with U.S. culture's move away from patriarchal gender roles.

Christine Blythea folklorist and the managing director The Mormon Historical Association argues that sister missionaries were the “ideal victims” for a horror film: characters that the audience associates with innocence and who’re worthy of being protected by men.

But once they leave the security of their homes, they’re persecuted moderately than protected. It is just a while after they enter Reed's house that Elder Kennedy, a person from their church, goes in search of them. Reed's seek for the “one true religion” and his efforts to get the women to desert their very own religion boil right down to his need for pure control over women – which is expressed not only in his violence, but in addition in its manner and the way in which he moves the figures of the 2 missionaries through a dollhouse-sized version of his house.

Audiences might even see the missionaries as scapegoats, as if such dangers only arise when women serve their church—moderately than considering that misogyny is a danger that ladies face no matter their religious affiliation.

Both “Heretic” and “Secret Lives” reflect ideas about Latter-day Saints for a U.S. audience. The audience, in turn, uses it to explore fears concerning the position of ladies in society. While each could also be entertaining in their very own ways, the challenge is to take into consideration why they resonate – and apply those thoughts to our own communities.

Perhaps that is where the rumors began about Hugh Jackman and his Broadway co-star Sutton Foster having a secret romance behind the scenes while each were married to other people.

Foster herself admitted in a 2022 interview that she and Jackman, 56, developed a really close bond after they appeared together in a Broadway revival of “The Music Man.” reported the New York Post. During the show's run from late 2021 to early 2023, additionally they began a pre-performance ritual that took place after they were alone of their dressing room.

“We call it carpet chat,” Foster, 49, revealed during an appearance on “Live with Kelly and Ryan.”

“We hang out in my dressing room before every show and just talk,” Foster continued. “Somehow we ended up sitting…maybe because my dressing room is a mess, we're sitting on the carpet.”

“It’s such a wonderful thing,” Foster also said. “We have become really good friends and just chat and discuss the day. The best part of the whole thing was that I found this wonderful new friend.”

According to multiple reports, Foster and Jackman became greater than just friends. They reportedly “fell in love,” which led to Jackman's ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness developing “suspicions” a few collaboration between them, the Daily Mail reported earlier this week. This report from the Daily Mail and other media outlets suggests that Jackman and Foster's romance began in the ultimate years of his 27-year marriage to Furness.

Jackman and Furness announced their separation in October 2023, nine months after The Music Man closed. Meanwhile, speculation has reportedly been rife in New York theater circles that Jackman is in love together with his co-star. That speculation spread to the tabloids last week when Page Six and other media outlets revealed that the Tony Award-winning Foster had filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin after ten years of marriage – “amid rumors” that she was now with Jackman is together.

It has since been reported that Jackman and Foster are “100% together” and plan to spend “the rest of their lives together.” But this news probably doesn't come as a surprise to the individuals who worked with them on the show.

In the classic musical, Jackman played con artist Prof. Harold Hill, who involves a small town to perform his latest scam but becomes fascinated by the residents, particularly librarian Marian Paroo. He and Marian fall in love and he’s redeemed by this love because the two sing to one another: “There was love everywhere/But I never heard it sing/No, I didn't hear it at all/Until you were there.”

Jackman and Foster performed this love story in greater than 300 performances, in accordance with the Internet Broadway Database. Sources told In Touch that Foster couldn't resist the charms of the handsome, famously fit, 6-foot-2 Australian actor. A source told In Touch that she is “absolutely giddy” around him. He, however, “was smitten with Sutton from the moment he met her. He followed her like a puppy!”

In hindsight, their mutual appreciation was clear to see as they appeared on red carpets together or did interviews together to advertise the show.

During an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” in 2022, they each gushed about how “intimidated” they were by one another before they got “close.” The New York Post also reported.

“You're Hugh Jackman!” Foster shouted on Seth Meyers' show after the “Wolverine” star questioned whether she can be intimidated by him. He, in turn, talked about her achievements and said that she is a six-time Tony nominee and two-time winner.

“For example, I saw her do 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' when you were about four years old,” Jackman joked, turning to his co-star. He was referring to her Tony win in 2002 for the lead role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, when she was actually in her 20s.

“I watched everything she did,” Jackman continued. “It's amazing.”

Now that Foster has filed for divorce, she and Jackman are presumably free to go public with their romance. But until that happens, they like to maintain things private, a source told Page Six. “They spend all their free time together,” the source said. “They’re a normal couple, they’re just private.”

Originally published: October 31, 2024 at 11:42 am PDT

Hugh Jackman's ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness had “suspicions” about him working with stage and tv actor Sutton Foster in a Broadway revival of “The Music Man,” in response to a report.

The concerns raised by Furness now appear to have been confirmed by reports that Jackman, 56, and Foster, 49, are doing so “100% together” and “in love,” with plans to spend “the rest of their lives together.” Jackman and Foster's romance reportedly began in the ultimate years of his 27-year marriage to 68-year-old Furness.

Jackman and Foster starred together in The Music Man, which ran from late 2021 to early 2023. Nine months later, Jackman and Furness stunned the entertainment world by announcing the tip of their marriage.

“Deborra-Lee had her suspicions when Hugh started working with Sutton,” a source says told the Daily Mail on Saturday. “Their relationship is no secret to them.”

Furness, who shares adopted children Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19, with Jackman, is not going to address speculation about his alleged relationship with Foster, the Daily Mail said. The speculation has reportedly been simmering in New York theater circles for a while, but last week it hit the tabloids Page Six aAnd other media outlets revealed that Tony Award-winning Foster had filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin after 10 years of marriage – “amid rumors” that she is now dating Jackman.

“Deborra-Lee wants to be left out of this narrative,” the source told the Daily Mail. “She won’t bring this up or speak out against Hugh.”

“When they divorced, they agreed to keep everything that happened during their marriage a secret,” the source also said.

A second source added that Jackman has stopped grieving the tip of his marriage to Furness, while Foster has also “gotten over” her marriage to Griffin, meaning Jackman and Foster are “getting closer to officially saying goodbye.”

“They’re not going to force it on everyone,” the second source said. “While working together, they became close friends and were able to confide in each other about their individual problems.”

“Hugh still has a lot of respect for Deborra-Lee,” the second source continued. “They have children and this is important to both of them. They fix what they can and will never speak ill of each other.”

In Touch Weekly first reported on it back in April that the Broadway romance was “an open secret.” At the time, Jackman was still technically married to Furness, although the 2 were separated. Foster, for her part, was still married to Griffin, whom she married in Santa Barbara in 2014 in a dress she picked out on the TLC show “Say Yes to the Dress.” Foster and Griffin are parents to a six-year-old daughter who they adopted together.

According to In Touch, Foster apparently couldn't resist the charms of the handsome, 6-foot-tall Australian actor along with his famous figure. A source told In Touch that she was “absolutely frisky” around him after being forged as librarian Marian, the lover of con man Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” Jackman, then again, “was smitten with Sutton from the moment he met her. He followed her like a puppy!”

Foster reportedly admitted that she and Jackman “became close” after they shared the rehearsal space through the show's production, In Touch reported. They also made notable red carpet appearances together and looked like a pair after they attended the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in June 2022.

The Music Man dropped in January 2023 and Jackman and Furness subsequently announced their separation. At the time, Page Six reported that the New York City-based Australian couple's divorce was “a long time coming.”

The announcement of the separation was amicable and polite. Jackman and Furness said that they had been “fortunate to spend nearly three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage.” They also talked about how their “journey” was “changing” and that they “decided to separate to further our individual growth.”

Now it appears Foster is involved in Jackman's pursuit of “individual growth,” with a source telling Page Six, “They are 100 percent together and in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together.”

Celebrities born on this present day: Josh Hutcherson, 32; Tyler Blackburn, 38; Bode Miller, 47; Hugh Jackman, 56.

Happy Birthday: Move forward with vigor and vigor, socialize, express yourself creatively, and search for modern ways to take a position and budget your money flow with finesse. It is a turning point and a chance to take steps, implement latest ideas and plans, and express who you might be and what you offer. Expansion is increasing, and in the event you market yourself and what you do best, you’ll receive unprecedented offers which might be fruitful and fun. Their numbers are 9, 13, 20, 27, 31, 38, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You gain momentum whenever you attend an event that addresses a cause that concerns you. The people you share ideas with will motivate you to assist make changes, and your circle of friends will expand. A financial or medical problem will prove higher than expected. 4 stars

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Take every opportunity to watch what others do and say, and it’ll provide help to formulate how you’ll be able to have a positive influence. Put your energy into personal development, meaningful relationships and the expansion of your own home. Romance is written in the celebrities. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Strengthen your bond with a useful person. The information you receive will provide help to determine what to do next. Improving your qualifications or using your skills individually will provide help to be competitive in a competitive situation. Keep your plans secret until you might be able to launch. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Pay attention to details and keep your plans easy and your budget reasonable. Don't expect everyone to agree with you. If you would like to avoid discord, don't share your thoughts or plans. Prioritize personal goals, self-improvement, health and fitness. Socialize, but don't share your beliefs. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-August 22): Stay calm. Look at your options. Develop a method, but don't jeopardize your repute or funds. Focus on learning, listening, and formulating a plan that may stand the test of time and carry you into the long run with enough momentum to make modern changes. 3 stars

VIRGO (August 23-September 22): A way of life change that features things that bring you joy is preferred. Stop giving in to other people and make decisions that put a smile in your face. A positive attitude will resonate with others and convey you the satisfaction you desire and deserve. 3 stars

LIBRA (September 23-October 22): Get on the market, mingle and have a deep conversation with someone who challenges you intellectually, and also you'll gain insight into another lifestyle. Gather information and join for an activity that may have a positive impact on how you progress forward. Put your thoughts and energy into improving your qualifications. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Skip what you’ll be able to't change and deal with creative pursuits, social events, learning or reconnecting with someone you miss. Life is about living, and it's as much as you to succeed in out and make things occur. A change of scenery shall be uplifting, rewarding and a stress reliever. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21): Too much of anything will set you back. Sign up or volunteer for a cause you would like to help. Donating money is effective, but practical help will provide you with greater satisfaction and front-line insight into what's possible and the way you’ll be able to turn out to be the linchpin of progress. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You may need a change, but don't expect it to return and not using a fight. Don't tackle other people's problems. It's best to not get entangled in anything that causes problems or can't be fixed. Be a very good listener or contribute well, but don't tarnish your repute. 3 stars

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Look for opportunities and be ready, willing and capable of make them occur. The satisfaction you’re feeling and the people you meet along the way in which may have a positive impact on what you do next. Don't make changes for the unsuitable reason. Do what’s best for you. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Uncertainty grows whenever you don't address relevant issues. Listen to your heart and connect with those that share your concerns and beliefs. Adopt a healthy attitude and take physical care of yourself, your family members, and your financial well-being. Enforce discipline, budget properly and reduce your overhead costs. 3 stars

Birthday child: You are curious, thoughtful and intense. You are demonstrative and powerful.

1 star: avoid conflict; Work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can achieve something, but don't depend on others. 3 stars: Focus and you may achieve your goals. 4 stars: High goals; start latest projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; Get gold.

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