

Hugh Jackman did an extensive sit-down interview on Katie Couric’s show earlier this week. A lot of outlets are focusing on Hugh revealing that his wife of 16 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, suffered two miscarriages while undergoing IVF early in their marriage. Hugh and Deborra went on to adopt two children, Oscar, now 12, and Ava, 7. This isn’t the first time that either Hugh or Deb have discussed their issues conceiving. They’ve both talked about it in past interviews, and last year Hugh said that he and Deb “are believers in I suppose you could call it destiny. We feel things happened the way they are meant to. Obviously, biologically wasn’t the way we were meant to have children.” It was a very sweet sentiment. In this story I’d like to focus on how glowingly Hugh praised his wife, and her talent, in his interview with Couric. It really touched me. This is a dedicated husband and father and it is in no way a put on. He adores his wife.

On how Deb deals with his sex symbol status

I remind her most days, come on. A lot of people ask me, what’s it like for Deb… what I always do on every film is we’ll all go out and have a dinner together. Any of them [his female costars] meet Deb, they’ll all prefer her to me. On what makes his marriage work

I’m an indecisive person. I’m terrible to go to a restaurant with, I can spend 10 minutes deciding… When I met Deb, I don’t know what it was. It was the clearest thing in the world for me. I knew 100 percent… I’ve never known anything as confidently or sure in my life that she was the one I was going to be with… In any marriage there’s good times, bad times, hard times and bad times. Whatever happens I know we’re going to tackle it together. Truly she’s the greatest woman I have ever met. On Deb giving up her career in acting

I think for me, she is one of the great actors I know, she is incredible. In fact, she had a time in Hollywood and I run into people, really powerful, big people, who say, ‘Congrats to you, but your wife is really one of the most talented’ and every time I hear that, it reminds me of the sacrifice she’s made, her selflessness, her love and what she’s done for the kids… We always made family a priority but I’m acutely aware, everyday, that actually, when it comes to sacrifices, Deb has shouldered most of those. She will come back, she will come back to work and in fact, I was telling her right now, ‘You need to get back to work because you’re just too good to waste that talent. Everyone needs to see it.’

[From Katie Couric's show and partially via Contact Music]

Compare the way Hugh talks about Deb as his partner and equal, as someone who gave up her career and is the “greatest woman” he’s ever met and a “great talent” to how someone like Ben Affleck grudgingly praises his wife Jennifer as a good mother and a kind person. (The comparison is particularly relevant because they’re both in the midst of Oscar campaigns.) Hugh loves Deb and appreciates all she’s done for him. He admires her and sees her as his partner in life, forever. I just hope they stay together for the rest of their lives. I know that’s unrealistic in Hollywood, but I’m rooting for them.

Hugh gushes about his wife:



Hugh talks about his wife’s miscarriages at around 3:00 in

