Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness might have amicably ended their marriage late last year, but that hasn’t stopped Deb, 68, from feeling the sting upon seeing her ex-husband cosying up to glamorous actress Kate Beckinsale!
Hugh, 55, and Kate, 50, stunned onlookers with their flirtatious behaviour while sitting in the royal box at Wimbledon for the women’s singles final.
The pair greeted each other warmly with a hug and proceeded to whisper and giggle with one another throughout the match, in full view of spectators and cameras.
Amid whispers the pair could be in the early days of a courtship, New Idea hears their overt public display of affection “rattled” the former Mrs Jackman.
“It’s one thing to want Hugh to find happiness again, but seeing it so intimately has prompted a whole new array of emotions that Deb was unprepared for,” our insider claims.
“He also never pawed at her like that either, so it was a bit of a shock, to say the least.”
Hugh and Kate are long-time pals, having known each other for more than 20 years. They worked together on the 2004 movie Van Helsing and their closeness was evident even back then, with the pair regularly engaging in banter-filled promotional press interviews.
In one exchange, Hugh was asked his thoughts on Kate calling him “the nicest guy in Hollywood”, to which he playfully responded: “You’re going to ruin my career, Kate.”
Kate jokingly added she’d tried to catch the Aussie heart-throb being anything but the “nicest guy” – but laughed that she’d found “nothing” to the contrary.
Hugh also added that working with Kate was the “most fun” he’d ever had on a movie set. Both stars were in happy, committed relationships at the time.
Hugh, of course, was married to Deb, while Kate was newly dating her Underworld director Len Wiseman. They wed in 2004 only to split in 2016.
Still, our insider believes it was abundantly clear they had obvious, natural chemistry together. “They never explored it but sparks were always flying between them,” adds the source.
Fast-forward two decades and both Kate and Hugh are now single – meaning the timing could be right for romance!
“Kate is someone that Hugh has always admired,” the source says.
“It’s very comfortable for Hugh to pick up on a respectful camaraderie he shared with someone and build on that.
“They’re both in the same situation, divorced parents in the public eye, they’re funny, kind, incredibly up-front and candid,” the source adds.
“It’s easy to see why this romance could work.”
