‘Close to her heart’: Hugh Jackman’s wife Deborra-Lee Furness ‘thrilled’ to shine light on the sensitive issue of displaced children as it’s announced she will direct three episodes of Neighbours
It was recently announced that Hugh Jackman’s wife Deborra-Lee Furness would be returning to Neighbours as a director- 35 years after making her acting debut on the soap as Linda Fielding.
The 63-year-old actress will step behind the lens for three episodes, in a bid to raise awareness to an issue very close to her heart – displaced children.
In a statement released on Monday, Deborra told TV Tonight she was ‘thrilled’ to be given the opportunity to tell a story ‘not often represented in mainstream media.’
‘Close to her heart’: Hugh Jackman’s wife Deborra-Lee Furness is ‘thrilled’ to shine light on the sensitive issue of displaced children as it’s announced she will direct three episodes of Neighbours. She is pictured here with Hugh in 2018
Deborra admitted the move by Channel Seven was ‘extremely powerful,’ adding that visibility is the most important factor in realising change.
‘To have an iconic television institution like Neighbours join the conversation and reflect the lives of so many Australian children is extremely powerful,’ she said.
‘Awareness is the essential first step in creating a positive shift in both culture and policy towards permanent solutions.’
‘Thrilled: L In a statement released on Monday, Deborra told TV Tonight she was ‘thrilled’ to be given the opportunity to tell a story ‘not often represented in mainstream media
‘There are almost 50,000 Australian children currently in temporary out-of-home care. We only get glimpses into their reality, and unfortunately that is usually when there are catastrophic outcomes,’ she added.
Executive producer Jason Herbison echoed Deborra’s sentiments, saying: ‘To have a director who is so personally committed and emotionally invested in telling such an important story, it lifts the bar for all us.’
Producers have worked closely with the wife of Wolverine and her non-profit Adopt Change foundation to develop a story that will see two Ramsay Street favourites become permanent carers of displaced children.
‘We have nuanced the storyline so it has integrity,’ Deborra told the Herald Sun on Sunday.
Loving family: The Australian-born star has spoken openly about her experience of adopting the couple’s children: Oscar, 18, and Ava, 13. Pictured in 2012
‘People know and love these characters, they know these character’s lives and the storyline will be representing real life. ‘[It shows] what really happens to people in Australia when they try to adopt,’ she told the newspaper.
Deborra-Lee has previously spoken about her own adoption journey with husband Hugh Jackman and their two children, Oscar, 18, and Ava, 13.
Speaking to Stellar magazine in April of last year, she said the ‘universe had a plan in place’ for her family.
Despite initially starting the adoption process in Australia, she was forced to continue the process in the US, where laws are less draconian.
What a throwback! Her return to Ramsay Street comes 35 years after she played Linda Fielding on the iconic Channel Seven soap. Pictured on Neighbours in 1985
‘Those who knew that Hugh and I had adopted our children Oscar and Ava in the US would come up to me in the street and ask: ‘Why is it so hard to adopt in Australia?’
Deborra-Lee has previously urged Australians to do their part to support children who have ‘aged out’ of foster care: ‘You don’t have to adopt a child to be involved. Reach out to a kid transitioning from foster care [to] going to college, hopefully,’ she said.
She added: ‘Give them a computer, ring them up to see how their grades are, just to let them know someone cares. It’s important.’
So happy! This year Deborra-Lee and Hugh marked 24 years of marriage together. The famous Australian couple met on the set of ABC drama Correlli in 1995. Pictured in 2018