NEWSAnne Heche Reveals 'Beautiful' Romance With Ellen DeGeneres Hurt Her Career
Sept. 15 2020, Updated 12:07 p.m. ET
Anne Heche has shared the screen with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and is often known for her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres. Now, she is also one of the biggest names to be participating in Dancing With the Stars, and while it's all "thrill" for her, Heche believes that her association with DeGeneres adversely affected her career.
The 51-year-old — who grew in popularity after her roles in blockbusters such as Donnie Brasco and Six Days, Seven Nights — dated DeGeneres for three years between 1997 and 2000. The announcement that they were a couple came immediately after DeGeneres came out as gay.
Heche admitted that she no longer talks to DeGeneres, and despite her career taking a dip because of her association with DeGeneres, she holds no grudge against her.
ANNE HECHE REVEALS SHE HASN’T SPOKEN TO EX ELLEN DEGENERES IN ‘YEARS’ AMID TALK SHOW CONTROVERSY
"When I met Ellen she was beaming light. There was nothing that could have shone brighter than who she was in the center of that room. I’ll never forget," she told the podcast "Irish Goodbye" about her relationship with the talk shot host.
"Our time was a beautiful part of my life and one that I wear with honor. I was a part of a revolution that created social change, and I could not have done that without falling in love with her," she added.
According to Heche, the two met at a Vanity Fair party shortly before DeGeneres came out, and before the premiere of her new film, Volcano, was released.
The Tony winner wanted DeGeneres to be at her film's premiere but revealed that it would lead to her being "fired" from a new film that she had just signed onto.
The upcoming film was going to be a big break for her — she was to star with Harrison Ford in Six Days, Seven Nights. Nevertheless, she decided to take DeGeneres with her to the red carpet.
MARIAH CAREY REVEALS ELLEN DEGENERES INTERVIEW WAS ‘EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE’ WHILE PREGNANT
Heche told the podcast: "I took Ellen, we were told that my contract for Fox would be extinguished and I would be fired. And that the movie that I had just met Harrison Ford on wouldn’t hire me. And we went to the premiere — these are the stories that I know people don’t know.
- Everything Ellen DeGeneres & Anne Heche Have Said About Each Other Since Their Bitter Split
- Austin Butler & Ex Vanessa Hudgens Refuse To Make Eye Contact As They Awkwardly Cross Paths At The Oscars
- 24 Celebrities Who Were Rumored to Have Hooked Up: From John Stamos and Demi Moore to Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
"We went to the premiere, we were tapped on the shoulder, put into her limo in the third act and told that we couldn’t have pictures of us taken at the press junket — and both she and I were fired that week," she added.
However, against all odds, Heche managed to keep the role, and she thanked her costar, Ford, since he defended her.
Speaking of Ford's reaction, Hatchet said that the star called her when he heard the news of the firing and said: "Frankly my dear, I don’t give a f-- who you’re f--ing, we have a movie to make. Let’s make it the best one ever."
ELLEN DEGENERES' PLASTIC SURGERY SECRETS REVEALED: FILLERS, NECK LIFT, AND MORE
The pair did manage to star in the movie, but it wasn't big at the box office. As a result, Heche admitted her career suffered, and she was unable to make a film for the next decade.
However, after starring in independent films and several television series, she managed to take home both Tony and Emmy Awards.
After her split from DeGeneres, she went on to marry cameraman Coleman Laffoon in 2001. The two split in 2009 and share son Homer together.
Heche shares her second son, Atlas, with James Tupper. The two separated in 2018.
