Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster relocate to North Carolina as Broadway star teaches fitness classes
Hugh Jackman and his partner Sutton Foster have left New York City behind for a quieter life in Wilmington, North Carolina, a coastal city of approximately 129,000 residents. The couple has been keeping a low profile in the historic port city, where Foster has embarked on an unexpected career venture.
The 51-year-old Broadway star, who won Tony Awards for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002 and Anything Goes in 2011, has been teaching fitness classes in Wilmington. Foster, also known for starring in all seven seasons of TV Land's Younger from 2015 to 2021, promoted her morning workout sessions on social media, with classes scheduled to begin at 9am.
Mixed reactions to career shift
The news has generated varied responses on social media. While some fans expressed support, writing
I think it's great. Good for herand
Random but kinda awesome,others questioned the move.
Why would a Tony Award-winning performer teach fitness classes?one user asked. Supporters were quick to point out that Foster has been teaching fitness classes for years, making this a continuation of a longstanding passion rather than a new venture.
The reason behind the couple's relocation remains unclear. Jackman, 57, is currently between film projects and is expected to star in an upcoming Treasure Island remake. His most recent release, The Death of Robin Hood, an A24 thriller directed by Michael Sarnoski that also stars Jodie Comer and Bill Skarsgård, premiered in June 2026.
Public backlash continues
Jackman recently faced criticism from fans after posting a photograph with Foster at the premiere of The Death of Robin Hood at AMC Lincoln Square 13 in New York. The Instagram post showed the couple smiling together, with Jackman's arm around Foster's waist as she threw one arm up in celebration. The caption read:
And we're off to the premiere of The Death of Robin Hood.
The post drew sharp criticism.
I see your pics I think of how heartbroken Deb must be,one user wrote, while another added:
This is so cringy.A third commenter wrote:
Bro, stop posting pictures with her. Literally no one supports this relationship.
Similar backlash occurred when Jackman attended this year's Met Gala with Foster. The couple arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art holding hands and posing for photographs together, a move seen by many as particularly difficult for his ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness, who had previously attended multiple Met Galas with Jackman, with their final joint appearance in 2023.
Relationship timeline
Jackman and Furness, who first met in 1995 on the set of the Australian television series Correlli and married in 1996, finalized their divorce on June 12, 2025, after Furness filed on May 27, 2025. The couple had been married for 27 years and share two adult children, Oscar and Ava.
Jackman's relationship with Foster began in late 2024, following their collaboration in Broadway's 2021 revival of The Music Man. The production began performances on December 20, 2021, officially opened on February 10, 2022, and ran for 419 performances before closing on January 15, 2023. Foster had filed for divorce from her husband Ted Griffin in October 2024, ending their 10-year marriage.
