Hugh Jackman Had To ‘Grudgingly Get Used to’ Sutton Foster’s ‘Close’ Bond With Ex Christian Borle

Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman’s whirlwind romance is still going strong, but her close relationship with her ex-husband Christian Borle could become a source of frustration for the X-Men star, 56, according to a source.

“Right up front, you can’t ignore the fact that Hugh and Sutton have a million things in common and their endless number of shared interests means this relationship has a real chance at going the distance,” the source exclusively tells the Globe. “But what’s baffling to Hugh, and everybody in Hugh’s world who is just getting to know Sutton now, is how close she continues to be to her first husband Christian, who is a pretty constant presence in her life as he continues to chase his own Broadway dreams.”

Foster, 50, and Borle, 51, were married from 2006 to 2009. They met while the actor was in college to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and they later worked together on Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2003.

While Foster “has a heart of gold” and Jackman wouldn’t “pressure her” to cut Borle off entirely, the source says it’s not his “style” to have her ex “lingering around and weighing in on everything.”

Borle’s own Broadway career is also said to be a point of tension, as Jackman “prefers to be surrounded by excellence,” says the source. Despite earning two Tony awards and starring in a number of Broadway and off-Broadway productions over the past 25 years, the source describes him as “a mid-tier Broadway actor, whereas Sutton and Hugh himself are certified living legends.”

“It’s just something Hugh has had to grudgingly get used to as he and Sutton fire out a future together,” the source continues. “It’s telling that even as Hugh begins to green-light and back plays in New York through his new production company, he’s not bending over backwards to fit Christian into those plans and shows, even though he’s always looking for work.”

“For Hugh, no matter how connected you are, and no matter how close you are to Sutton, you have to earn your place up on that stage – no exceptions!” the source concludes.

Foster and Borle may have remained tight friends after their divorce, but Jackman and his ex-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, appeared to have had a more tense split as rumors swirled that there was an overlap between his current relationship and his marriage.

Jackman and Furness, 69 – who tied the knot in 1996 and share son Oscar, 25, and daughter Ava, 19 – finalized their divorce this past June, weeks after Furness hinted at experiencing “betrayal” in their marriage.

“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,” the Shame actress, 69, said in a statement published by Daily Mail. “This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage.”

“It can hurt,” she added, “but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.”