Inside Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s Peaceful “Small Village” Life in the English Countryside One Year After Leaving Hollywood
For Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the spotlight was once a constant companion — the cameras, the interviews, the fame that never seemed to rest. But after years of living under the bright lights of Hollywood, the couple has quietly embraced a different kind of life, one that unfolds not in front of studio audiences but in the soft, rolling hills of the English countryside.
It’s been just over a year since they left the United States, and friends say they’ve never seemed happier. The pair settled in the Cotswolds, a picturesque region known for its honey-colored stone cottages, winding lanes, and a sense of peace that feels untouched by time. The move wasn’t about running away — it was about starting fresh.
An insider close to the couple shared that Ellen and Portia “fell in love with the simplicity” of the area during a trip years ago and decided to make it home. Their days now look nothing like the fast-paced, demanding lives they once led in California. They wake up early, take long walks with their dogs through meadows and village paths, and spend afternoons gardening or reading in their sunroom overlooking the hills. It’s a far cry from the studio sets, red carpets, and relentless media schedules that once defined them.
Locals describe seeing them occasionally in small village cafés or local markets — Ellen often in jeans and a cap, Portia in a cozy sweater and boots. They blend in, just another couple living quietly and contently. “They’ve found peace here,” one resident told People. “It’s a small village, and everyone respects their privacy. They seem genuinely happy.”
After two decades in the entertainment industry, Ellen has largely stepped away from television since ending The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022. In her farewell episodes, she spoke openly about wanting to rediscover herself and find balance outside the pressures of fame. Portia, who’s focused on her passion for design and philanthropy, encouraged the move as part of their shared goal to slow down and reconnect with what matters most — time, nature, and each other.
Their home in the Cotswolds reportedly reflects that same philosophy. It’s minimalist yet warm, filled with natural light and earthy tones, with gardens that Portia tends herself. “It’s their sanctuary,” said the source. “They’ve built a place where they can breathe again.”
Ellen has found comfort in writing and photography, often capturing small moments around their village — a quiet street, a cup of tea on a foggy morning, or Portia laughing by the window. It’s the kind of life few would have imagined for the former talk show host, who once thrived on stage and spotlight. But for Ellen, this change has been grounding. “I’ve lived so many lives,” she reportedly told a friend. “This one feels the most real.”
The couple occasionally travels between the UK and their property in Montecito, California, but England feels like home now. Away from the headlines, they’ve created something simple, private, and meaningful — a kind of happiness that doesn’t need applause.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi spent years making audiences smile. Now, they’ve found a way to smile for themselves — quietly, peacefully, and surrounded by the gentle beauty of their small English village.
