14 DAY TRIAL // Portia De Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres, perhaps one of the most enduring and beloved celebrities couples of the moment, were married in August 2008 in California. Today, it has emerged that Portia has just filed papers to legally change her name from De Rossi to DeGeneres, because that feels like the right thing to do right now and because it’s an anniversary present, as People magazine can confirm.
Though their relationship has often been subject of speculation in the tabloids, especially with rumors making the rounds at the beginning of last year that they were making the first steps towards adopting a baby boy and starting a family, the two stars have always tried to draw a line when it came to their personal life. Even now, the two are not saying anything on the name change and perhaps the world would have never learned of it had it not been for the court papers filed in March.
“Portia de Rossi’s second anniversary gift for Ellen DeGeneres? A name change. The actress, who tied the knot with the talk show host, 52, on Aug. 17, 2008, has asked the court to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres, according to a petition filed Friday in L.A. County Superior Court,” People magazine writes. That the name change is a present for the second marriage anniversary is, of course, also pure speculation – but the coincidence is too big to be ignored, some believe.
“As for the reason, the papers, which were initially signed by Rossi, 37, in March, say, ‘Petitioner is taking the last name of her spouse.’ But de Rossi isn’t a DeGeneres just yet. The name change won’t be official until a hearing, scheduled for Sept. 23, takes place. A rep for the talk show host had no comment. TMZ.com was first to report on the filing,” the aforementioned magazine further says.
Also earlier last year, in a candid and one of a kind interview, Ellen spoke about her relationship with Portia and how it had helped her understand what real beauty was. The day she walked down the aisle and said “I Do” to Portia was the day Ellen felt the most beautiful in her life because it’s love that makes people beautiful, she said at the time. Clearly, judging by her petition, Portia feels the same.
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