On a Sunday afternoon in late July, Ellen DeGeneres walked onto the stage at the historic Cheltenham Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, England, to the tune of Harry Styles' "You're So Golden," then sat in front of a crowd of nearly 700 people for a surprise Q&A session. During the event, the former talk show host - who's remained mostly under the radar since ending her long-running chatfest in 2022 - discussed everything from her early days in showbiz to her 2020 fall from grace to what the future holds. She also shed light on her recent decision to leave her beloved Montecito, California, neighborhood for greener pastures in the U.K. In November 2024, DeGeneres, 67, and her wife of 17 years, Portia de Rossi, 52, officially relocated to the Cotswolds - an idyllic region in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, stone cottages... and posh yet privacy-seeking A-listers like David and Victoria Beckham. "It's absolutely beautiful," she told the audience of her adopted home. "Everything here is better." According to sources, DeGeneres has found her happy place. She spends her days contentedly tending to her chickens, ushering sheep out of her open-air living room and walking to the local pub for lunch. "It's a different lifestyle for her," an insider tells Us Weekly. "She's very chill and in her element." She and de Rossi reside in a stunning 10,000-square-foot home called Hiaven, which they bought for a reported $26 million. (Their original Cotswolds property, Kitesbridge Farm, is currently up for sale for $30 million.) It's a new chapter for DeGeneres - and also a chance for a career refresh. "I do like my chickens here, but I am a little bit bored," she told English broadcaster and host Richard Bacon during her July 20 event, noting that she's still figuring out her next moves. (Just days later, it was announced that DeGeneres had signed with WME talent agency.) "I don't know what I'm going to do yet," she said. "I'm going to pick it very carefully." Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi: A Timeline of Their Relationship DeGeneres and de Rossi had been contemplating a move across the pond for some time. "They had visited before and looked at homes but weren't sure when they would do it," says an insider. "When they found the right place, they jumped on it." They initially planned to stay in England just a few months out of the year, but decided to make it their permanent residence after the 2024 election. DeGeneres said in the Q&A that she and de Rossi were in the Cotswolds when Donald Trump's presidency was announced. "We were like, 'We're staying here. We're not going back.'" (They opted to sell Kitesbridge and move to Hiaven because, according to DeGeneres, the newer home has a horse facility and de Rossi "couldn't live without her horses.") PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY PATRICK BOYER@ILLUSTRATIONX. ELLEN DEGENERES BY ANDREW CHIN/GETTY IMAGES. PORTIA DE ROSSI BY SHUTTERSTOCK. BACKGROUND IMAGES BY GETTY IMAGES (9) She's leaning into country living. "Ellen's been farming and gardening and taking care of her animals," says the insider. DeGeneres has shared photos and videos of her doing all of the above with her 135 million followers on Instagram, as well as footage of her and de Rossi rowing a boat and mowing the lawn on their sprawling 100-acre property, located in the cozy village of Great Tew. "Those close to her have never seen her happier." DeGeneres raved about the U.K. to Bacon, saying she loves the "absolutely beautiful" scenery and architecture, adding, "I really like the people and [the] fish and chips are delicious. Everything you see is charming, and it's just a simpler way of life." Privacy is a huge concern for DeGeneres and de Rossi, but they've been chatting up the locals. "[Ellen and Portia] have interesting things to say," shares a source. "They were friendly to local people and wanted to live normal lives, but were nervous of any press attention." Adds a Great Tew resident: "I've only met them very briefly, but from what I've heard, everyone who has spent time with them seems to suggest they are very nice, good company and genuinely committed to making England their home." Still, many locals seem to be unaware of DeGerenes' celebrity status. A second source from the area tells Us several residents revealed that they had "never heard" of the comedian when asked about her. "But then again, horsey people - and there are a lot of them around here - don't watch afternoon TV," explains the source. Whether DeGeneres is recognized or not, the Great Tew resident believes she and de Rossi have gotten a warm reception from the community. "To my knowledge, there's been nothing 'frosty' happening around here. I think this side of the Cotswolds is very welcoming and friendly." The pair are regulars at the exclusive members' club Soho Farmhouse and have been spotted getting Sunday lunch at the Falkland Arms pub, a 16th-century inn in the center of town. "It's a maze of cozy nooks and crannies, shadowy and