Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Anne Heche claims she was ‘blacklisted’ by Hollywood over Ellen relationship

Heche and Ellen Degeneres were in a relationship between 1997 and 2000

Sam Moore
Tuesday 26 October 2021 09:41 EDT
Comments
Ellen Degeneres: Portia de Rossi is my rock

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Anne Heche has claimed she was “blacklisted” by Hollywood for her relationship with comedian and talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.

Actor, Heche, and DeGeneres dated between 1997 and 2000 and the Donnie Brasco star says her career took a downturn after the couple went public with their relationship.

Heche told Page Six that she felt like “patient zero in cancel culture”.

Heche then claimed that after her and DeGeneres attended the premiere of Volcano together, the big studios stopped casting her: “I didn’t do a studio picture for 10 years. I was fired from a $10 million (£7.2m) picture deal and did not see the light of day in a studio picture.”

Heche also accused Fox of trying to back out of hiring her for romantic comedy, Six Days, Seven Nights but co-star Harrison Ford stepped in: “He said, ‘Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn who you’re sleeping with, we have a romantic comedy to make. Let’s make it the best one that’s ever happened.’”

She added: “That is why Harrison Ford is my hero. To stand behind me at such a time when the force of what I was standing up for could have been toppled.”

Despite the repercussions on her career, Heche says she has no regrets over going public with DeGeneres: “Those repercussions that happened, are to me what has created a part of the change. I’m a part of it. It is a badge of honor.”

Heche got her start in daytime soap, Another World before moving on to movies such as the remake of Psycho and the critically acclaimed Wag the Dog.

Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche
Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche (Shutterstock / Featureflash Photo Agency)

She also became prolific in TV, appearing in such shows as Hung, Men in Trees and Save Me.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in