Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster Step Out Hand-in-Hand for Dinner Date in L.A. (Exclusive)
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are stepping out together.
The former Music Man costars enjoyed a low-key, laughter-filled night out for dinner in Santa Monica, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 6. Arriving together and holding hands, Jackman, 56, kept it casual in a dark jacket over a grey shirt and white jeans, while Foster, 49, fresh off an acclaimed Broadway revival and L.A. run of Once Upon a Mattress, wore a tan trench coat over an olive dress.
Jackman, who issued a joint statement with ex-wife Deborra-lee Furness in September 2023 announcing their split after 27 years of marriage, was relaxed and upbeat as he and Foster enjoyed their night out. The Tony Award-winning actress and singer filed for divorce in October from husband Ted Griffin following 10 years of marriage.
Jackman and Foster's reps did not have immediate comment on the outing.
On Saturday, Jan. 4, Jackman attended one of the final performances of Foster's Once Upon a Mattress at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre. He was joined in the audience by Carol Burnett — who played Foster’s role in the original 1959 production.
In photos published by DeuxMoi, a smiling Jackman is seen holding his phone up toward Burnett, 91, while sitting beside her in the theater and the rest of the audience is looking towards them during the special moment. Burnett gave a kiss and a wave to the crowd.
Foster and Jackman, who costarred in the 2022 hit revival of Music Man, have spoken highly of each other and of their collaboration on the classic musical, which ran on Broadway from December 2021 to January 2023.
While speaking to PEOPLE at the 2024 Drama Desk Awards in June, Foster shared, "He's one of the greatest guys ever, an incredible costar." During a joint appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers to promote Music Man in May 2022, the actress said, "The show is so joyful, and I’m having the time of my life playing opposite this guy."
For his part, Jackman allowed that he had been intimidated by Foster's talent and sterling résumé. “This is a six-time Tony nominee, two-time winner. Like, I saw her do Thoroughly Modern Millie when you were like 4 years old. But I’ve watched everything she's done," said Jackman, himself a Tony winner, during the joint late-night appearance. "It’s amazing."
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Both have come off break-ups of their respective marriages in recent years. Foster filed for divorce from Griffin, 54, a screenwriter, in the New York County Supreme Court on Oct. 22, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.
Jackman and Furness, 69, who met on the set of the Australian TV series Correlli and wed on April 11, 1996, announced their separation in Sept. 2023.
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The former couple shared an exclusive statement with PEOPLE at the time, saying, "We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth."
"Our family has been and always will be our highest priority," they added in part. "We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives."
Next up for Jackman will be a return to the stage for a series of live concerts at Radio City Music Hall. Titled "From New York, with Love," the shows kick off on Jan. 24 and runs throughout 2025.
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster hold hands on date night as they go public with romance: photos
From the stage to Santa Monica.
Former “The Music Man” co-stars Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster publicly confirmed their romance on a date night in Santa Monica, Calif. on Monday night.
The actors were photographed holding hands heading to Father’s Office Pub.
Jackman, 56, wore a black zip-up jacket with a gray shirt and white jeans.
Foster, 49, had on a tan trench coat and an olive-colored dress.
The pair were all smiles together as they stepped out for the romantic outing.
Jackman and Foster appeared together in “The Music Man,” which ran on the Great White Way in NYC from December 2021 to January 2023.
Jackman and ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, announced their split in Sept. 2023 after 27 years of marriage. The former couple share adopted children Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19.
Foster, meanwhile, filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, “Ocean’s Eleven” screenwriter Ted Griffin, last month — just as news broke about Jackman and Foster’s alleged secret romance. Foster shares an adopted daughter, Emily, 7, with Griffin, 53.
A source told the Daily Mail in Nov. that Furness “had her suspicions” about Jackman and Foster’s relationship when they were Broadway co-stars.
“A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it quiet because both of them are so nice and great people,” a source close to Foster told Us Weekly. “Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap.”
It was later reported that Jackman and Foster are a couple “but don’t live together because of their kids.”
“They are 100% together and are in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together,” a source for Page Six claimed. “They go out of their way to hide it, but it’s common knowledge.”
Jackman and Foster started making their relationship more public last weekend, when the “X-Men” actor attended Foster’s “Once Upon a Mattress” show in Los Angeles.
The Australian actor was photographed supporting Foster in the audience at the Ahmanson Theatre.
The couple previously openly gushed about each other when they did “The Music Man.”
“The show is so joyful, and I’m having the time of my life playing opposite this guy,” Foster said on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” in May 2022.
During an appearance on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” that year, Foster said her and Jackman “hang out in my dressing room before every show and just catch up.”
“It’s such a wonderful thing,” the “Younger” alum added. “We’ve become really good friends and we just talk and catch up on our day. That’s been one of the best parts of the whole thing, that I’ve made this wonderful new friend.”
The Post previously reached out to Jackman and Foster’s reps for comment.
