Ellen DeGeneres on her bizarre first date with Portia De Rossi

SHE’S one of Hollywood’s most recognisable faces, so when Ellen DeGeneres was told she had to keep a first date secret — it wasn’t easy.

Ellen DeGeneres has opened up about the rocky start to her relationship with Portia De Rossi.

FIRST dates are rarely easy — so spare a thought for poor Ellen DeGeneres who had to plan an entire outing with Portia De Rossi without being seen.

The popular TV host has revealed in an interview with Radio 1 DJ A. Dot that the first time they went out, they just drove around town in a car all night because De Rossi hadn’t yet publicly revealed her sexuality.

Portia and Ellen were told they couldn’t be seen together.

“We drove around in a car because we weren’t supposed to be seen together,” the 58-year-old said.

“Everyone was saying ‘don’t be seen’ and ‘what if this doesn’t last and you ruin your career?’”

The couple had the last laugh though; they’ve now been happily together for 11 years and will celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary next month.

Ellen and Portia at their wedding in 2008.

She also described using her high-profile status to represent the gay community.

“I don’t feel a responsibility to any group of people for any reason, I feel a responsibility as a human being with a big platform to represent kindness and compassion and equality and that’s got nothing to do with the fact that I happen to be gay,” she said.

“I don’t wake up in the morning and go, ‘I’m gay let’s go’. It’s obviously a big part of who I am to some people, but I care more about being a good person and opening minds to caring about one another.”

Originally published as Ellen DeGeneres on her bizarre first date with Portia De Rossi