Portia de Rossi takes wife Ellen Degeneres’ name

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Portia (POR'-shuh) de Rossi has officially taken wife Ellen Degeneres' last name.

A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner granted De Rossi's request to take the last name of her partner during a closed hearing Thursday. The television star will now legally be known as Portia Lee James DeGeneres.

The couple was married in August 2008. The 37-year-old Australian-born actress asked for the name change last month.

Neither woman attended the hearing. They married during the five-month window in which gay marriage was legal in California.

Portia DeGeneres is well-known for her roles on several television series, including "Ally McBeal," ''Arrested Development" and "Better Off Ted."