Life in the English countryside has brought a change of pace for Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia De Rossi, but sources say the couple is still deeply connected to their roots in California.
The longtime partners relocated to the Cotswolds in the United Kingdom in November 2024, embracing a quieter lifestyle far from Hollywood. While the move was intentional and refreshing, new reports suggest the transition has not been entirely seamless.
According to insiders, DeGeneres and De Rossi have found themselves missing familiar parts of their American routine, from close friendships to the rhythms of life back home.
That longing appears to have played a role in a recent real estate decision. Sources reveal that the couple has purchased a new home in California, roughly 14 months after leaving the U.S. The move does not signal a full return, but rather a desire to maintain a strong foothold on both sides of the Atlantic.
“She’s not moving back to the U.S. but will continue to split her time between both the U.K. and Montecito, [Calif.],” an insider tells People. The insider added that while DeGeneres has enjoyed the privacy and slower pace of life in England, the experience has been notably different from her years in the spotlight.
“She always looked friendly but nobody ever approached her and it was just another celeb to them,” the source previously said, describing how locals largely left the comedian alone during her time in the U.K.
That anonymity, while peaceful, reportedly came with a sense of distance from the community and the familiar warmth DeGeneres experienced in California, particularly in Montecito, where the couple previously spent significant time. Friends say the balance of calm and connection is something DeGeneres values deeply, and splitting time between two homes allows her to have both.
The couple’s move to England had been in the works for months before it became public. “Ellen was in England house hunting in the beginning of October. She ended up finding a house that she loved and purchased it shortly after.”
Since stepping away from her long-running talk show, DeGeneres has kept a relatively low public profile, focusing on personal projects, philanthropy, and life with De Rossi. The decision to divide time between the U.K. and California reflects that new chapter, one defined less by a single base and more by flexibility.
For now, DeGeneres and De Rossi appear committed to making the most of both worlds. England offers calm and privacy, while California continues to feel like home, even from afar.
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