What Is Ellen DeGeneres’ Wife, Portia de Rossi, Famous For?

Ellen DeGeneres has been hosting her daytime talk show for quite some time. A few years back, she even hosted the 86th Annual Academy Awards — receiving acclaim from everyday viewers and critics alike. 

DeGeneres remains one of the most famous women working in Hollywood. And though she has risen to international stardom over the last two decades, her wife, Portia de Rossi, has also appeared in a handful of productions. 

While not as famous as DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi has made a name for herself in the biz. So, what is Portia de Rossi most famous for? What TV shows and movies are you likely to remember her from? 

Inside Portia de Rossi’s most well-known TV roles

For years, Portia de Rossi played Lindsay Bluth Fünke in the hit TV series Arrested Development. Throughout her time on the show, she appeared in a total of 84 episodes. Portia de Rossi also had a major role in Scandal; she played Elizabeth North in the TV series starring Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn. And, who can forget de Rossi’s turn as Olivia Ward in the one and only Nip/Tuck? She also starred across from Robert Downey Jr. and Calista Flockhart in the multiple-award-winning show Ally McBeal. 

While Portia de Rossi boasted sizable roles in Arrested Development, Scandal, and Ally McBeal, she has also appeared briefly — or as a recurring character — in a handful of other known productions.

De Rossi played Dr. Cora Wolf in the Netflix original comedy series The Santa Clarita Diet; she appeared in the two episodes titled “Baka, Bile and Baseball Bats” and “The Book!” De Rossi also played the one-time character Jill in an episode of Sean Saves the World.

While Portia de Rossi has made a name for herself via small-screen shows, she has appeared in several memorable TV movies and cinematic productions that you also may recognize. 

Portia de Rossi has starred in a handful of popular films and TV movies 

As for TV movies, de Rossi played Jackie Lawrence in 2002’s The Glow. The film focused on a newlywed NYC couple who move into a low-rent luxury apartment. All is fine and dandy until Jackie realizes that the young couple in her building disappeared. And… the elderly people surrounding her and her husband are watching their every move. 

De Rossi played Judith Swan in the 2012 TV movie The Smart One. The movie follows a smart and successful woman who must go to work for her less intelligent, but quite pretty sister (who is now a Mayor). 

As for cinematic productions, Portia de Rossi appeared in Scream 2, Stigmata, Who Is Cletis Tout?, Sirens, Cursed, and more. In short, Portia de Rossi may be married to one of the most famous talk show hosts of all time; however, she climbed the ladder to the top as well, appearing in multiple hit shows and movies throughout her Hollywood career.