America’s Most Captivating Couples 2009, Part I
Beverly Hills, California
Portia, 36, Actress
Ellen, 51, Comedienne, Talk show host
Married in 2008, Ellen and Portia have inspired us with their public relationship and celesbian chic. Their tabloid-worthy marriage and vocal opposition to California’s Prop. 8 caught our attention last year, and we just couldn’t resist giving them a second run as one of our most captivating couples. “We’ve both changed and grown, and we just feel like, ‘Oh, okay, this is completion,'” said the daytime talk show host of their decision to marry. Despite the struggle with California’s same-sex marriage laws, and the liminal state of their legal union, the two are still beaming. And Portia’s three-carat pink diamond ring certainly gave Ellen points in the romance department. Vegan animal lovers, they live with three cats and two dogs. Says Ellen on the Prop. 8 legal
battles, “I’m begging you. I can’t return the wedding gifts—I love my new toaster.”
Between new friends and familiar favorites, choosing the most delightful duos of 2009 was no easy task. But our hard work paid off and here we present part 1 of this year’s most captivating couples! Look for more couples in the March issue!
Gretchen & Cricket
New York, New York
Gretchen, 37, Senior Manager, Risk Management
Cricket, 41, Artist, Doll Designer
Last year Gretchen and Cricket took the plunge and got married. As a first anniversary present to themselves, the couple bought an art gallery out West. “We named it Studio Miska, and it’s in the same artists’ colony as Cricket’s mom,” says Gretchen. They have an adorable Pomeranian pup, Poppet, and often spend weekends around Washington, D.C., with Gretchen’s two sons, Griffith and Andy. “We had to put our first date on hold because Cricket was stranded an hour and a half away from the city. She was stuck on a stalled boat in the middle of a lake.” Worried her crazy excuse sounded like a blow-off, Cricket backed up her story with a cell phone picture of herself waiting in the boat for help. “We can’t claim that every day has been smooth sailing, but we’ve strived to build a loving and happy relationship through honesty, compromise and a great big dose of humor.”
