Biography

Born and raised in Melborne, Australia on January 31, 1973, Portia de Rossi was originally named Amanda Marie Rodgers. She changed her name to Portia at age 15, saying that it was the most daring thing she had done at that point. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Melbourne and studied law. But in 1993, Portia found herself acceting a role in Sirens, a low budget comedy starring Hugh Grant and Elle Macpherson, after the casting director had seen her in a commercial. She received the role of Giddy, one of the three gorgeous models in the movie. But it wasn't until 1997 that Portia de Rossi finally started to be recognized. After her unforgettable role as Murphy in Scream 2, and then, her portrayal as the 'Ice Queen' character Nelle on the Fox television show Ally McBeal. Due to the public's response, she became a regular cast member in 1998 along with starring in several film projects since, such as The Invisibles, Girl, and Stigmata. Soon she was starting to show up on magazine covers (such as Shape and Rolling Stone), being recognized for both her long golden tresses and for her talents as an actress.

Filmography

I Witness (2003) .... Emily Thompson
Night We Called It a Day, The (2003)
Glow, The (2002) (TV) .... Jackie Lawrence
Two Girls From Lemoore (2001)
Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001) .... Tess Donnelly
Women in Film (2001) .... Gina
2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) (as Portia deRossi) .... Herself

"All Star Squares" (1999) TV Series .... Panellist
"Ally" (1999) TV Series .... Nelle Porter
Stigmata (1999) .... Jennifer Kelliho
American Intellectuals (1999) .... Sarah
Invisibles, The (1999) .... Joy
Perfect Assassins (1998) (TV) .... Lana Collins
... aka Breed Apart, A (1998) (TV)
Girl (1998) (as Portia Di Rossi) .... Carla
Scream 2 (1997) .... Sorority Sister Murphy
"Ally McBeal" (1997) TV Series .... Nelle Porter (1998-2002)
"Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher" (1996) TV Series .... Miss Elana Lewis
Woman in the Moon, The (1995)
"Too Something" (1995) TV Series .... Maria Hunter
... aka "New York Daze" (1995)
Sirens (1994) .... Giddy