Hugh Jackman Getting ‘Cut to Look His Best’ for Sutton Foster: She’s a ‘Motivator for Him’

Hugh Jackman is hot and heavy with new love Sutton Foster and a source exclusively tells Closer he’s been hitting the gym like a monster to look his best.

“Hugh was already in better shape than most men half his age but he’s very critical of himself so in his mind he really needed to drop some weight and get cut to look his best for Sutton,” the insider dishes. “She’s a little younger than him and he has her on a huge pedestal, so he does feel this pressure to impress her.”

The insider adds that the Wolverine star’s relationship has been a “motivator for him” and “he’s been an absolute beast in the gym lately, doing all kinds of crazy endurance workouts that push his cardio to the limit.”

Since abs are made in the kitchen, Hugh, 56, has “also gone on a very strict diet,” consisting mostly of protein and “cut out all sugar and processed foods because he wants to put on muscle while losing the fat.”

“He’s been training his upper body so much that he can now do one arm push-ups,” the source tells Closer, noting that “he loves showing that off and is understandably pretty proud to be in this kind of shape at his age, and no doubt Sutton is impressed by his eight-pack!”

Hugh and Sutton, 49, connected in December 2021 while working on the Broadway revival of The Music Man. Both were married at the time — Sutton was married to Ocean’s Eleven screenwriter Ted Griffin. She and Ted, 53, met on a blind date through friends, got married in 2014 and adopted one child, daughter Emily in 2017.

As for Hugh, he was married to Deborra-Lee Furness. The former couple met in 1995, married in 1996 and adopted two kids together: son Oscar in 2000 and daughter Ava in 2005.

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Hugh and Sutton got close while working on The Music Man. They gushed over each other in interviews and on social media and looked cozy at red carpet events. The pair posed for photos at the 2022 Tony Awards on the red carpet and Sutton delicately placed her hand on his chest as she gently leaned into him for the snapshot. Also, the Little Women star shared a photo via Instagram practicing a dance number with Hugh in January 2022, calling the moment “a dream.”

In September 2023, Hugh and Deborra, 69, announced their split after nearly three decades of marriage. “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” the former couple told People in a joint statement at the time. “Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”

Hugh and Deborra’s breakup only added fuel to the Sutton affair rumors. That December, In Touch exclusively reported that the Van Helsing actor was “romancing” Sutton after separating from his wife.

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“[Hugh] has been besotted with Sutton from the moment he met her. He followed her around like a puppy!” a source exclusively told In Touch in December 2023.

Nearly one year later, Sutton filed for divorce from Ted in October. Neither of the pair have released a statement about their separation. In Touch previously reported that Ted responded to Sutton’s divorce filing on November 19. She reacted with a counterclaim and the case is at a halt as of publication.

One month after Sutton and Ted’s divorce filing, a source told Us Weekly that Hugh’s romance with Sutton was “the reason” for his split with Deborra.

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“A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it quiet because both of them are so nice and great people,” the source told the outlet in November. “Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap.”

Neither of the couples has addressed the cheating rumors. Hugh and Sutton have yet to publicly confirm their romance.

Although Hugh and Sutton’s relationship has raised eyebrows amongst fans, a second source exclusively told Closer in November that Hugh was “head over heels” for Sutton.

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“For Hugh, this isn’t just a fling, he’s completely captivated by Sutton and sees her as ‘The One,’” the second insider said at the time. “He’s been drawn to her for a long time and feels a deep connection that he just can’t ignore.”

That said, their kids aren’t keen on their relationship and they don’t want to play nice for the holiday season.

“They’re living apart because of the kids and they’re bracing themselves for way less time together than they’d like during the holidays,” a third insider exclusively told Closer earlier this month.

The third source added, “They are a bit shocked by the backlash they received. They expected some of it, but not this much.”