Portia de Rossi shared the story of how she came out to her 99-year-old grandmother during an appearance on her wife Ellen DeGeneres talk show.
On Tuesday, the 49-year-old actress and the 64-year-old host, who have been married for 13 years, discussed the early days of their relationship.
‘Since we’ve been together, many things have changed. You came out by just being with me — that was your outing,’ Ellen said.
The latest: Portia de Rossi shared the story of how she came out to her 99-year-old grandmother during an appearance on her wife Ellen DeGeneres talk show
Back then: On Tuesday, the 49-year-old actress and the 64-year-old host, who have been married for 13 years, discussed the early days of their relationship. Ellen and Portia pictured in 2020
She continued, ‘But your story about telling your grandmother that you were with me is a beautiful story that I would love you to share.’
Portia described her close relationship with her grandmother, who ‘meant everything to me and noted that they were born on the same day.
The Arrested Development star explained that her Australian grandmother was a fan of her future spouse’s hit sitcom Ellen, which ran from 1994 to 1998.
Sweet: Portia described her close relationship with her grandmother, who ‘meant everything to me and noted that they were born on the same day
Fan: The Arrested Development star explained that her Australian grandmother was a fan of her future spouse’s hit sitcom
‘She was so special to me and she was a huge fan of Ellen,’ Portia said. ‘She loved the sitcom — in Australia.
‘Loved the sitcom, wouldn’t miss an episode … until the episode where she came out.’
During Ellen’s fourth season in 1997, the star came out during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show and her character announced she was gay in a widely-publicized and groundbreaking episode of the sitcom.
Portia: ‘Loved the sitcom, wouldn’t miss an episode … until the episode where she came out’
‘So that didn’t bode well for me,’ Portia admitted. Seen in 2004
She continued, ‘Now, I know I’m gay at this point and I love my gran, and the minute that Ellen came out, she refused to watch the show.’
The Ally McBeal actress added, ‘In fact, if a commercial for her show came on, she would change the channel and say “That disgusting woman.”
‘So that didn’t bode well for me,’ Portia admitted.
The performer recalled how she moved to Los Angeles to start her career and began a romance with Ellen.
During a trip home to visit her family in Australia, Portia recounted sitting down by her grandmother’s chair at her feet when her grandmother asked her if she was seeing anyone special.
The SAG Award winner said, ‘At this point, my mom was supposed to have told Gran that I was with Ellen. And she knew that we lived together. ‘
‘And I said “Great, I’m with Ellen.” And she said ‘”Alan? Who’s Alan?”
Married: The pair tied the knot in August 2008 after the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California
The in-studio audience laughed as Portia noted that her grandmother was 99 at the time.
She continued, ‘And I said, “Yeah, you knew that I lived with Ellen.”
‘And she said, “Yes, and all this time I was worried that that lesbian was hitting on my granddaughter.”
‘So she literally put her head in her hands for 20 seconds, 30 seconds, silent, and I thought ‘That’s it, I’ve killed my grandma,’ Portia said.
‘I really thought that I did. And she just looked at me, and she goes, ‘Well, I love you just the same.”
Ellen then said that it was ‘beautiful thing for someone at her age’ to change her mind about same-sex relationships.
The comedienne explained how she and Portia put her grandmother in the best home care facility that they could find after the actress’s mother Maggie was no longer able to care for her.
The pair tied the knot in August 2008 after the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California.
Ellen recalled that Portia’s grandmother ‘died at 103 with our wedding picture next to her bed.’
Touching: Ellen recalled that Portia’s grandmother ‘died at 103 with our wedding picture next to her bed.’ Pictured in 2015
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