The "Arrested Development" actress told advocate.com in 2005 she changed her name legally at the age of 15 to reinvent herself after coming out as gay.

The name Portia is from a Shakespearean character in "The Merchant of Venice." She chose an Italian last name:

"De Rossi because I was Australian and I thought that an exotic Italian name would somehow suit me more than Amanda Rogers. When you live in Australia, Europe is so far away and so fascinating, so stylish and cultured and sophisticated."