08 . Portia de Rossi-DeGeneres . First and foremost, as a Shakespeare fan, I love that Amanda Rogers (Portia’s real name) chose a name from The Merchant of Venice as her stage name. But de Rossi’s appeal isn’t just in her chosen stage name – it’s in her talent. Her portrayal of Lindsay Funke in Arrested Development and Veronica Palmer on Better Off Ted have proven that she has one of the best in the biz.
de Rossi’s marriage to Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most real and sweet marriages I’ve seen in hollywood. de Rossi and DeGeneres seem genuinely in love, and like they truly care for each other deeply. Their acceptance and pride in who they are is wonderful, and something to be admired. Her battles with eating disorders threatened her health, but her relationship with Ellen and her new strength has made her come to terms with her body and be proud and accepting of it.
Quotes
“I love being able to wear dresses and clothes that make me feel feminine and beautiful, and I love the fact that I don’t have to all the time; I can wear a tank and jeans.”
I stumbled into acting and just loved it. I deferred law school-and I’m still deferred.”
“I try to be feminine, yet intellectual and smart at the same time. You don’t see enough of that.”
“I want young people to see me and think you can be feminine and smart and successful, all at the same time.”
“I want to exude strength and intelligence.”
