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“She’s Subservient”: Body Language Experts Decode Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster’s Behavior
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster smiling together at a red carpet event with body language experts analyzing behavior.

“She’s Subservient”: Body Language Experts Decode Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster’s Behavior

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It’s official: Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster have gone Hollywood public, making their first red carpet debut together as a couple.

The cameras were ready and flashing as the Wolverine star, 57, and the popular theatre actress, 50, posed together at the AFI FEST 2025 screening of Hugh’s new movie Song Sung Blue.

But instead of fiery chemistry, body language experts said the couple kept things sweet and subtle. One explained that Hugh had a “power gesture” on the red carpet, while Sutton seemed “subservient” next to him.

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    Highlights
    • Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster made their first red carpet debut together as a couple.
    • They offered the cameras ear-to-ear grins, but body language experts claimed they looked “as nervous as kittens” on the red carpet.
    • There was one move that was Hugh's “power gesture,” while Sutton seemed “subservient” next to him.

    Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster have gone Hollywood public, making their first red carpet debut together as a couple

    Image credits: Gilbert Flores/Variety

    After months of dating, Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster made their much-awaited red carpet debut as a couple on October 26.

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    The Australian heartthrob wore a black suit, and the Broadway star matched him in a black satin dress.

    They offered the cameras ear-to-ear grins, but body language experts claimed they looked “as nervous as kittens” on the red carpet.

    Image credits: enews

    They were “showing the kind of body language that would be more common on a prom night date between teens than a couple of experienced actors,” body language expert Judi James told The Mirror.

    She said they looked like they were trying to be “polite” on the red carpet, giving off a subdued energy to spectators.

    “There seems to be a driving need to produce polite and not-too-giving body language poses on their first red carpet hard launch as a couple,” the expert added.

    The couple seemed like teenagers “on a prom night date,” said one body language expert

    Image credits: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

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    Judi noted that there was a “spatial gap” between their torsos, keeping “any more flirty” signals “out of the equation.”

    “Their arms held around each other’s backs seem to employ a very light touch here, while their free arms [hang] to their sides with a slight show of tension,” she added.

    Despite their “sweetly coy approach” to the cameras, the couple seemed to be “at peak happiness” with “high levels of excitement” with each other, Judi added.

    @toofabnewsHugh Jackman and Sutton Foster made their red carpet debut on Sunday night 🎥 Getty♬ original sound – toofab

    “The mirroring shows like-minded thinking that would suggest a friendship and career match as well as any romantic one,” she told the outlet.

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    Another body language expert Louise Mahler said the couple were giving off positive signs and indicators of sharing a strong relationship.

    She told the Daily Mail that they looked “so relaxed and happy” together.

    Expert Louise Mahler said the pair looked “so relaxed and happy” beside each other

    Image credits: louisemahler

    Meanwhile, body language expert Darren Stanton spoke on behalf of Betfair Casino and said the couple were giving “genuine smiles.”

    “They’ve both got laugh lines and crow’s feet near their eyes, which denote genuine happiness and fun,” Darren told Hello!

    “They’re both displaying microexpressions of joy in all of the photos, and there’s a real authenticity coming from Hugh and his partner,” he added.

    Image credits: americanfilminstitute

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    Although minimal, Darren touched upon their “public displays of affection” and said Hugh had his arm around the bottom of her back with his fingers spread out in one photo.

    “This is a power gesture” from the X-Men star’s side, Darren said, describing the bottom of the back as a “proximal zone” reserved for romantic partners.

    It “alludes to the fact that he’s feeling extremely confident and comfortable in that environment to show that level of PDA,” he added.

    “This is a power gesture” one explained about Hugh’s move on the red carpet

    Image credits: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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    On the other hand, Sutton seemed more “subservient” as she tilted her body towards him in some shots.

    “That means she’s subservient, but not in a negative sense – she’s giving him his power and letting him lead the way on the red carpet,” he added.

    While their PDA isn’t “over the top,” it still shows how the actor is “extremely comfortable” with his new flame.

    “This shows us that Hugh and Sutton are deeply in love, with great closeness and a level of rapport,” he continued.

    Overall, Darren concluded that the couple appeared to be their “confident” and “authentic selves.”

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    Image credits: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

    “They definitely seem comfortable around each other, showing authentic joy and happiness at being at the event. She’s very comfortable, and he is showing PDA,” he said.

    While Hugh and Sutton have crossed paths professionally over the last couple of decades, it is believed they grew close while starring opposite each other in The Music Man. The show opened on Broadway in February 2022 and had its final show in January 2023.

    There was no official confirmation on when their connection turned romantic, but rumors about their relationship made headlines in 2024, shortly after Sutton filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin in October 2024.

    Hugh and ex-wife Deborra Lee Furness announced their separation in 2023 after being married for nearly three decades.

    “Ink hasn’t even dried yet,” one commented online following the couple’s red carpet debut

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    Binitha Jacob

    Binitha Jacob

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    Read more »

    At Bored Panda, I dive into breaking celebrity news, Hollywood updates, and viral pop culture stories that spark global conversations. My background as a reporter at International Business Times and Latin Times gave me experience covering fast-moving entertainment stories for international audiences. Today, my work regularly appears on Google News, AOL, and MSN, reaching millions of readers. What excites me most is capturing the pop culture moments that people can’t stop talking about.

    Read less »
    Binitha Jacob

    Binitha Jacob

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    At Bored Panda, I dive into breaking celebrity news, Hollywood updates, and viral pop culture stories that spark global conversations. My background as a reporter at International Business Times and Latin Times gave me experience covering fast-moving entertainment stories for international audiences. Today, my work regularly appears on Google News, AOL, and MSN, reaching millions of readers. What excites me most is capturing the pop culture moments that people can’t stop talking about.

    What do you think ?
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do people really think it's weird that the couple people are openly calling in "experts" to analyse their body language don't seem completely comfortable? This woman was going to a publicly hostile work event, so maybe she's a sub in the relationship, but also maybe she's a plus one who knows strangers are angry and judging her and she has to smile and wave. I wouldn't want to go either. Maybe they are hiding dark secrets, but unless they become public, there's no story

    IORN
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Experts... yeah, right. Go get a life. Or do some meaningful work instead of these opinions.

    Tam Tam
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it just me or does anyone else think they look like brother and sister? Literally look like they could be twins, front face, side view and even their hands.

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do people really think it's weird that the couple people are openly calling in "experts" to analyse their body language don't seem completely comfortable? This woman was going to a publicly hostile work event, so maybe she's a sub in the relationship, but also maybe she's a plus one who knows strangers are angry and judging her and she has to smile and wave. I wouldn't want to go either. Maybe they are hiding dark secrets, but unless they become public, there's no story

    IORN
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Experts... yeah, right. Go get a life. Or do some meaningful work instead of these opinions.

    Tam Tam
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it just me or does anyone else think they look like brother and sister? Literally look like they could be twins, front face, side view and even their hands.

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