Portia de Rossi Biography

Fast Facts

• Received a Golden Satellite Award in 2005 for her work on "Arrested Development․"
• Provides support to the Gentle Barn, which provides sanctuary for abused animals
• Got into showbusiness after modeling for print and TV commercials as a child
• Studied law at the University of Melbourne before catching the attention of a casting director who had her audition for "Sirens․"
• Quote: "(On starting out in Hollywood) "There was no way that I could be true to myself, or even trust myself to make decisions, because I did not know what it meant to be a celebrity․""
• Married filmmaker Mel Metcalf because she did not want to be exposed as a lesbian
• Got a part in "Ally McBeal" only after actress Vanessa Marcil decided to turn down the role in order to take a job at "Beverly Hills, 90210․"
• As an animal lover, she started being a vegan in 2008
• Sang background on Francesca Gregorini's album "Sequel․"
• Changed her name at the age of 15 in an attempt to reinvent herself, taking the name "Portia" from a character in "The Merchant of Venice․"