In a recent interview with People magazine, celebrity couple Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi spoke about the commitment, romance, and strength that have defined their 12-year marriage. The couple wed in August 2008 right after same-sex marriage was legalized in California.
Recently, their love withstood the test of a major challenge. DeGeneres was accused of creating a toxic, abusive work environment. Speaking about that time, DeGeneres said, “It broke my heart; I couldn’t have gone through everything I went through without her. It was a horrible time in my life, and she was a rock. She kept me going and tried to help me put things in perspective.”
The couple has also weathered other challenges including DeGeneres’s recent recovery from Covid-19 and their busy work schedules. Apart from The Ellen DeGeneres Show which is in its 18th season, DeGeneres also hosts NBC’s Game of Games and the upcoming HBO Max show Ellen’s Next Great Designer. Portia de Rossi owns General Public, an art curation and publishing company.
The couple finds time for romance even when they’re busy. De Rossi claims that whenever she travels, her wife will have the hotel put rose petals in the shape of a heart on her bed. “It always catches me off-guard,” she smiles. For her part, DeRossi leaves little notes around the house if she’s going somewhere. “She’s just thoughtful,” says DeGeneres.
In the interview, the couple attributes the strength of their marriage to many different things. However, they both value growing together as a couple and putting the relationship first. Both agree that they can’t imagine spending time with anyone but each other. They also both claim that they’re the lucky ones and say that they practice gratitude. When it comes to what she loves most about her wife, Ellen has a running list, “To start superficially, I love the way she looks. I love her brain; she’s smart. That’s important. She’s strong. She’s confident. She’s really funny.” De Rossi says of her wife, “She is the kindest, most generous, most loving, loyal, trustworthy person, I have ever known,”
If that isn’t love, we don’t know what is!