Ellen DeGeneres is a fan-favorite, with her daytime talk show being one of the most watched across the country. We got to know and love the comedian through her show, but how much do we know about Ellen DeGeneres’ wife, the gorgeous Portia de Rossi? Keep reading to find out more about her!
Portia de Rossi may be known as Ellen DeGeneres’ wife, but she has an impressive resumé of her own! She is an actress who has appeared in plenty of TV shows over the years.
De Rossi moved from her native Australia to America in the ‘90s, and went on to work on some film projects, too. Get to know more about her life and work in Portia de Rossi’s wiki.
Inspired by Shakespeare
Amanda Lee Rogers was born on January 31, 1973, in Horsham, Australia. At the age of 15, she changed her name to Portia de Rossi, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Merchant of Venice. Portia de Rossi’s age is currently 44.
She was raised in Grovedale, Australia, and took on modeling assignments for print and TV commercials as a child. She studied at Melbourne Girls Grammar School and studied law at the University of Melbourne.
An Accomplished Actress
Portia de Rossi began her acting career in the 1994 Australian film, Sirens, where she played a young model, alongside Hugh Grant and Elle Macpherson.
The actress then moved to Los Angeles and went on to star in TV shows like Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, Nip/Tuck, and more. It was her role as the cold and detached Nelle Porter in Ally McBeal that won her acclaim.
De Rossi also starred in the popular political drama, Scandal, in its fourth season. But she left the show in 2017 to focus on a business venture.
The big screen also came calling for the actress. Portia de Rossi’s movies include Scream 2, American Intellectuals, The Night We Called it a Day, and Cursed.
De Rossi’s beauty and charming personality gave her the chance to be featured in popular magazines.
Her roles in films and television, as well as appearances on talk shows, have made Portia de Rossi’s net worth an estimated $20.0 million, according to sources.
Marriage to Ellen DeGeneres
Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres met at an awards ceremony in 2004 and got married at their Beverly Hills home in August 2008. She was previously married to filmmaker Mel Metcalfe.
The actress opened up about her sexuality in 2005. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, she spoke about the time she met DeGeneres.
De Rossi said, “We actually met socially, and I just felt that immediate draw. We did talk a little bit and then over those three years, we saw each other at parties or at various things, but the one time that was the most significant was during a photoshoot actually.”
“I just walked over to say hello to her, and I couldn’t believe it, but she turned around, and it was like an arrow was shot through my heart. I felt weak at the knees, and I was overwhelmed with how I felt, but then it took me about 10 months to get the courage up to actually do anything about it,” the actress added.
Portia de Rossi’s Instagram features many adorable pictures of the couple and their pet dogs.
De Rossi was full of praise for the brave firefighters who were battling the raging wildfires in Southern California. Their home continues to be under threat from the recent mudslides in Montecito, California. Our prayers are with them.
This is not a river. This is the 101 freeway in my neighborhood right now. Montecito needs your love and support. pic.twitter.com/jRNCBrp4b5
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 9, 2018
Her Words of Wisdom
Considering that British bard William Shakespeare is her inspiration, Portia de Rossi has some wise words that she shared with the world. We leave you with some of Portia de Rossi’s quotes. We hope they inspire you as much as they have inspired us!
“We must be able to inspire. That’s my goal in acting.”
“I want to exude strength and intelligence.”
“I want young people to see me and think you can be feminine and smart and successful, all at the same time.”
