How "Equal Love" Binds Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

In August 2008, Ellen DeGeneres married actress Portia de Rossi at their home in Los Angeles. The couple, who started dating since 2004, exchanged vows in front of 19 guests and have been going strong ever since. Over the years, Ellen says she's learned not to compromise when it came to relationships.

"I used to think I could fix people," Ellen says. "I would be in relationships because, obviously, I saw a lot of good in that person, but I ignored that I wasn't happy or that I was getting hurt."

Now, Ellen says she's married to someone with whom she shares equal love. "I love her and she loves me, and we respect each other," she says. "And, as someone once said, 'It is wonderful to be loved, but it's profound to be understood.'"

In the above video, watch as Ellen shares what she believes makes a person special.

More from this episode