Quick Facts
Biography
Deborra-lee Furness (born 30 November 1955) is an Australian actress and producer. She is married to fellow actor Hugh Jackman.
Early life
Furness was born in Perth, Australia, and raised in Melbourne. She studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she graduated in either 1981 or 1982. She performed in the United States on the stage in New York and as Kathleen, the Australian wife of Cole Gioberti (Billy Moses) on the television series Falcon Crest before returning to Australia to continue her acting career.
Furness rose to fame in 1988, when she starred in the movie Shame, for which she won Best Actor awards from the Film Critics Circle of Australia and Golden Space Needle. Other roles included an episode of Halifax f.p. and The Flying Doctors. In 1995, she starred in the title role in the television series Correlli, where she met her future husband, Hugh Jackman.
An adoptive mother of two, Furness is known for her work assisting orphans globally and streamlining international adoptions, especially in her native Australia where she is a patron, and one of the creators, of National Adoption Awareness Week. She has addressed the National Press Club of Australia on the subject of adoption laws in Australia. Furness is a patron of the Lighthouse Foundation for displaced children and International Adoption Families for Queensland. She is also a World Vision ambassador and serves on the Advisory Committee for Film Aid International, working with refugees throughout the world.
Personal life
She is married to fellow actor Hugh Jackman. They met on the set of Australian TV show Correlli in 1995. The ceremony took place on 11 April 1996 at St. John's in Toorak, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. After suffering two miscarriages, she adopted two children with Jackman: son Oscar Maximillian (born 15 May 2000) and daughter Ava Eliot (born 10 July 2005).
Honour
In 2014, Deborra-lee Furness was named as the New South Wales Australian of the Year for her work in adoption campaigning.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Crossover Dreams | Unknown role | |
| 1986 | Jenny Kissed Me | Carol Grey | |
| 1986 | Cool Change | Lee | |
| 1986 | The Humpty Dumpty Man | Carmel DeVries | |
| 1987 | The Bit Part | Acting Teacher | |
| 1988 | Shame | Asta Cadell | |
| 1988 | Evil Angels | Magazine Reporter | |
| 1988 | Two Brothers Running | Silver's Secretary | |
| 1988 | Celia | Miss Greenaway | |
| 1990 | The Last of the Finest | Linda Daly | |
| 1991 | Voyager | Ivy | Also known as Homo Faber |
| 1991 | Waiting | Diane | |
| 1992 | Newsies | Esther Jacobs | |
| 1995 | Angel Baby | Louise Goodman | |
| 1998 | The Real Macaw | Beth Girdis | |
| 2006 | Jindabyne | Jude | |
| 2008 | Sleepwalking | Danni | |
| 2009 | Beautiful | Mrs. Thomson | |
| 2009 | Blessed | Tanya | |
| 2010 | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole | Barran | Voice role |
| 2014 | Dukale's Dream | Herself | Documentary |
Television
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Division 4 | Junior 1 | Episode: "The Human Factor" |
| 1979 | Prisoner | Connie | 3 episodes; one uncredited role |
| 1983 | Kings | Unknown role | |
| 1985 | Neighbours | Linda Fielding | 5 episodes |
| 1985 | The Flying Doctors | Fran | TV miniseries |
| 1985 | Glass Babies | Joan Simpson | Television film |
| 1987 | Falcon Crest | Kathleen | Episode: "The New Faces" |
| 1987 | The Flying Doctors | Sapphire | Episode: "Sapphire" |
| 1987 | A Matter of Convenience | Valma | Television film |
| 1988 | Act of Betrayal | Kathy | Television film |
| 1993 | Stark | Chrissie | 3 episodes |
| 1993 | Singapore Sling | Annie | Television film |
| 1994 | G.P. | Kate Morrison | Episode: "All of Me" |
| 1995 | Halifax f.p. | Brigit Grant | Episode: "The Feeding" |
| 1995 | Correlli | Louisa Correlli | 5 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | Fire | Dolores Kennedy | 17 episodes |
| 1997 | Roar | Agrona | Episode: "The Cage" |
| 2000 | SeaChange | Vicki Drury | Episode: "Hungi Jury" |
| 2010 | This Is Your Life | Herself | |
| 2011 | Kimchi Chronicles | Herself | |
| 2013 | Phineas and Ferb | Additional Voices | Episode: "Primal Perry" |
| 2016 | Hyde and seek | Claudia Rossini | Main Cast |
Awards
- 1988 SIFF Award for the best actress in Seattle International Film Festival.
- 1988 Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for the best actress.
- 1991 Silver Shell for the best actress in San Sebastián International Film Festival.