American talkshow host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres has said there was a “whole lot of anger and depression” after she came out.
The 58-year-old said that when she went public about her sexuality, in 1997, it was initially celebrated.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi (David Jensen/PA)
But Ellen told the Mail on Sunday’s You magazine: “Then it just turned, and I mean, turned. Obviously, worrying about what would happen afterwards is why it took me so long to come out.
“I was a very insecure person and depended on validation from people who watched my show or my stand-up – validation I felt I’d lose if everybody knew who I really was.
“Afterwards, there were jokes at my expense and I couldn’t turn on the TV at night without some comedian or talkshow host making fun of me. Not for a minute did I regret doing what I did, but it was hard.”
Ellen DeGeneres with actors Kurt Russell and Anne Heche in 1998 (Chris Pizzello/AP)
She added: “There was a whole lot of anger and depression, and it was scary because I was also running out of money.”
But now Ellen said her career “couldn’t be in a better place”.
Ellen voices the protagonist fish in Pixar animated film Finding Dory, which is being released in the UK on July 29. It is a sequel to the 2003 film, Finding Nemo.
Ellen DeGeneres made a furry friend at the premiere of Finding Dory (David Jensen/PA)
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