‘Kids get a raw deal’: Deborra-lee Furness’ fury

Hugh Jackman’s wife Deborra-lee Furness has revealed why she will not give up on her mission to help Aussie kids, after suffering deafening silence from politicians.

When Deborra-lee Furness was told she’d been named an Officer of the order of Australia (OA), the acclaimed actor and adoption advocate couldn’t help but see the symmetry.

“I’m thrilled that my mum [Fay Duncan] got it and my husband [Hugh Jackman] got it. So it’s so nice that the three of us in the family [have received the honour]. That’s like wow, that’s really pretty special.”

Furness’s mum, Fay Duncan, received the same award shortly before she died in 2016, for her work through the Fight Cancer Foundation.

“Mum started the first bone marrow institute in Australia,” Furness said from the New York home she shares with husband, Jackman and the couple’s two kids, Oscar and Ava.

Deborra-Lee Furness and her husband, Hugh Jackman, have both received on Order of Australia honour. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

“As parents, we put onto our kids to be of service – I do that to my kids – so it makes sense that my mother taught me, that’s what you do. It’s not a big deal – it’s just what we do. And I married someone who also does that so it’s all in the family.”

Jackman, she says, is “thrilled”.

“I bake a pie and Hugh throws a party. He’s always the proud husband. Mind you, it is quite an achievement if I bake a pie that’s edible,” she laughs.

Furness’ work through her Adopt Change foundation “works towards every child and young person having access to a safe, nurturing and stable family upbringing”.

“When we started, no one in parliament, no one in government would talk to us and there was such negativity, still the old stigma from the past around adoption,” Furness said.

Furness and Jackman had wanted to adopt in Australia but were “appalled” at how badly the process was run. Instead, they adopted their kids in America but a fire was lit, and Furness wanted to help Australian kids be placed into loving homes.

Deborra- Lee Furness has been a tireless advocate for Australian children being placed in loving homes. Picture: Supplied

“I don’t think of myself as a ‘standing on a soapbox’ advocate. I am a justice freak, though, and I saw a huge injustice for children – these kids are getting a raw deal. They could be in loving families and they’re not. What’s standing in between these Australian kids getting into loving families is bureaucracy and it was stuck in an archaic system that handled it wrong in the 1950s and 60s,” Furness said.

“There have been archaic beliefs around single people adopting, around LGBTQ people adopting. We work with the indigenous community in this space. How far is there to go? How long’s a piece of string. I would love to be out of a job. This is a big, big issue.”

Aside from her advocacy work, Furness is co-writing a screenplay to a film she will also direct.

Deborra-Lee Furness in the classic 1988 film Shame. Furness will soon direct her first feature film. Picture: Supplied

“I’m doing it so I can make this film in Australia – it’s an Australian story. I still feel very connected to my roots. When I left Australia to come to Hollywood, there just wasn’t the opportunity, which is why half of us left. But I love that so many of us who’ve been successful are paying it back. I want to create jobs for Aussie actors and crews.”

Furness is even contemplating a move back in front of the camera.

“As we’re writing [the script], I was thinking, who could we have in that role? Then I went, ‘Damn, it’s me!’

“But this will be my first feature to direct, so I have to decide whether to take [acting] on as well. It will be a big job directing. But I hope I can put my big girl pants on and find a role for me.”

https://www.adoptchange.org.au