Hugh Jackman couldn’t be more thrilled for his wife Deborra-lee Furness and her tireless campaign for orphans.
Hugh Jackman might have hosted at the Oscars and the Tony Awards but he says its wife Deborra-lee Furness being acknowledged for Australian of the Year that ranks as the most important time of their lives.
“I’m not surprised that she’s having the impact she’s having,” says Hugh of Deb’s tireless campaigning.
“She’s the most heart-led person I’ve ever met. I mean, incredibly smart and witty and all of that, with incredible wisdom, but the heart leads.”
Deb’s eight-year campaign to make adoption easier for Australians and to help 157 million orphans worldwide find homes has included an address to the United Nations, a UNICEF project and no less than a Prime Ministerial taskforce.
And with two cherished adopted children of her own – Oscar, 14, and Ava, 9 – the thought of so many without a family left her heartbroken.
“Can you imagine that many kids who don’t have a mum or dad to say ‘I love you’ and tuck them in at night?”
Not one to rest on her laurels, Deb campaigned tirelessly to change government policy, and won. She also founded the Adopt Change organisation and became executive director of the Worldwide Orphans Foundation. According to Hugh, 46, it’s all in a day’s work for his “awesome” wife, but Deb insists she’s simply following her heart.
“You look at all these kids and think, ‘That could’ve been my child’,” says Deb, 59.
“It has dominated a lot of my life, but the drive is still there, so I keep going. I’ve got a lot of energy so that’s why I can do it.”
Hugh agrees he’s married to a human dynamo! “Deb has always had more energy than me.
“It amazes me that she’s always so enthusiastic and never gets down about anything. She’s always there to keep me in good spirits.
“If anyone meets my wife, they’re like, ‘You’re all right, Hugh… but your wife is awesome!’ Everyone who meets her loves her.”
Read more of Hugh’s adoring words about his amazing wife Deborra-lee only in Woman’s Day on sale 26th January.
