Before Nicole and Keith, another Aussie couple’s split shocked the world

Unfortunately for these two former Australian couples, this photo hasn’t exactly aged well.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s split in September shocked the world, after decades of marriage, while Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness’ split after almost 30 years of marriage was another big breakup that shocked fans.

Earlier this year, actress Furness, 69, broke her silence after filing for divorce from the Wolverine star, sharing a powerful statement saying she “remains grateful,” but has been navigating “the traumatic journey of betrayal”.

Nine.com.au looks back at some of the biggest celebrity splits we’ve seen in recent years for some of Australia’s household names.

Watch the videos above.

Nicole and Keith

Kidman and Urban tied the knot in Sydney’s Manly in 2006 and were married for a total of 19 years. They first met in 2005 at a G’Day LA event.

People confirmed the sad news Kidman and Urban had separated after 19 years of marriage last month, with a source telling the publication that Kidman “didn’t want this” and had been “fighting to save the marriage”.

TMZ broke the news of the split, with sources claiming the actress and musician had been living apart since the start of the northern hemisphere summer.

The day after the news made headlines, the Babygirl star officially filed for divorce.

The papers, which have been obtained by several publications, cite the reason for their split as “irreconcilable differences”.

During their time together, rocker Urban, 57, got at least four tattoo tributes for his wife before their split.

These include her first name on his bicep, her middle name ‘Mary’ on his knuckles and her initials on his wrist.

Perhaps their split was such a shock as the musician also penned a number of tracks for the actress over the years. 

The Moulin Rogue star, 58, has been keeping up public appearances and recently spoke with Harper’s Bazaar opening up about her own resilience as she reflected on the best part about growing older.

Nicole Kidman’s life and career in photos

“The best part is the experiences that you’ve accumulated,” Kidman told the publication.

“So you go, ‘Oh, I’ve been here before. I actually know how to handle this now’. Or, ‘Maybe I haven’t been in this place, but I’ve experience something similar to this and I do know that I will get through it.'”

The new interview was published 10 days after Kidman filed for divorce from Urban.

But while she didn’t mention any word on the divorce, it appears Kidman knows she will be just fine based on past experiences.

“You’re going to feel like you’re broken but if you move gently and slowly – and it can take an enormous amount of time – it does pass.”

Hugh and Deborra-lee

The Australian stars were married for almost 30 years after first tying the knot back in Victoria back in April 1996. 

Earlier this year, after filing for divorce, Furness shared a powerful statement, saying she “remains grateful,” but has been navigating “the traumatic journey of betrayal”.

In a statement shared with Nine, Furness said: “My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal.

“It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.”

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She went on to talk about the end of her marriage, which saw the pair live in New York and adopt two children together.

“This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage. I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose.”

She went on to say she has found “liberation and freedom” post-split and is “grateful” for her life path.

DailyMail.com first reported the news that Furness had filed for divorce from Jackman, after they announced their split in September 2023.

At the time, the pair shared a statement with People that read in part: ”We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage.

The biggest celebrity splits and divorces of 2024

“Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”

They added that their “family has been and always will be our highest priority”.

Since the split, Jackman is believed to be dating American actress and Younger star Sutton Foster, 50.

Isla and Sacha Baron Cohen

Earlier this year, Aussie actress and former Home and Away star Isla Fisher finalised her divorce with Borat’s Sacha Baron Cohen.

In a statement posted to their respective Instagram accounts, Fisher, 49, and Cohen, 53 shared: “Our divorce has now been finalised.”

“We are proud of all we’ve achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children. We ask for the media to continue to respect our children’s privacy.”

The couple first announced their split in a joint statement released in 2024 alongside a photo of them dressed in tennis gear.

It read: “After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down.”

“In 2023 we jointly filed to end our marriage,” it continued, “We have always prioritised our privacy, and have been quietly working through this change.”

They were married for 13 years and together for 20 in total.

Naomi and Liev

If there’s two Hollywood stars you can say have had a truly amicable breakup, it’s Australian actress Naomi Watts and her ex, Liev Schreiber.

The pair, who share two children together, were together for 11 years before going their separate ways in 2016.

The former couple never tied the knot, but have both moved on and wed their respective new spouses, with Watts marrying actor Billy Crudup and Schreiber marrying model and former pageant queen Taylor Neisen and welcoming a child.

In their split statement, the Hollywood stars, who are 56 and 57 respectively, said they were putting the interests of their family unit first and would be dedicated co-parents.

And they’ve truly kept their word.

Indeed, Ray Donovan star Schreiber previously spoke about his close bond with Watts and how dedicated the pair are to co-parenting despite their split.

“You know, we’re parents together so we’ll be together for the rest of our lives no matter what, and we’re very close,” he said on CBS This Morning.

“Hopefully, that never changes and I don’t think it will.”

Shortly after King Kong star Watts’ split from Liev, she did a chat with Vogue Australia where she touched on her ex, admitting, “There are good days and there are bad days”.

”Liev and I are on great terms. We’re trying to do our absolute best for the sake of the children and we hope to keep moving forward in that way,” she said.

“He’s [a] fantastic dad, a wonderful, wonderful man, and we still want the absolute best for each other.

“So, that’s pretty much all I’ll say.”

They recently reunited as they sent son Sasha off to university and his new dorm room.

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