Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster officially confirmed their romance when they were spotted holding hands as they stepped out in Santa Monica, California, for a rare dinner date.
The duo was seen arriving at a restaurant together on Monday, January 6, according to photos obtained by People. Hugh, 56, dressed casually in a dark jacket, a grey shirt and white jeans. Meanwhile, Sutton, 49, looked stylish in a tan trench coat and an olive dress.
Hugh and Sutton appeared to be in good spirits during the outing, and they smiled as they held hands while walking outside.
The public dinner date comes amid their separations from their spouses. Hugh and Deborra-lee Furness announced their separation in September 2023 after 27 years of marriage.
“We have been blessed to share almost three 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,” the former couple said in a joint statement at the time. “Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. 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.”
The statement concluded, “This is the sole statement either of us will make.”
One month later, Sutton filed for divorce from her estranged husband, Ted Griffin, in October 2023 after 10 years of marriage.
Hugh and Sutton were first romantically linked after they costarred in the 2022 hit revival of Music Man on Broadway. Rumors began to swirl that they cheated on their spouses before their splits, though neither Hugh nor Sutton have publicly commented on the speculation.
In November 2024, sources told Us Weekly that the Wolverine actor and Younger star were officially a couple. Not only did the insider note that they are “happier than ever,” but they added that their romance is “lighthearted” and “joyful.”
“Deborra-lee was blindsided when she found out about the affair through the run of the show,” an additional source previously told Us Weekly, referencing the alleged romance that began during their run of Music Man. “It was apparently Broadway’s worst-kept secret, and Deborra-lee was the last to know.”
The insider added that Hugh “didn’t own up” to the affair to his then-wife before the rumors began to spread.
That same month, Deborra-lee, 69, seemingly confirmed that Hugh and Sutton were dating when she “liked” a social media post from gossip blogger Tasha Lustig claiming that Hugh had “blindsided” her by sharing his relationship with Sutton.
While Hugh and Sutton have kept their romance out of the spotlight, they haven’t been shy about their admiration for each other’s talent. “He’s one of the greatest guys ever, an incredible costar,” Sutton previously told People about the Bad Education actor in June 2024.
After Hugh and Deborra-lee confirmed their split, she revealed that she was ready to move on while attending the premiere of her movie Force of Nature: The Dry 2 in January 2024. “You know what, change, transition, evolution is a little frightening and we are all a bit scared of it but I think it is probably our greatest gift,” she told the Daily Telegraph. “It is kind of exciting.”