Dancing With The Stars contestant Anne Heche has opened up about her time with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and the ‘life changing’ effect she had on her

Anne Heche has opened up about her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres while appearing on Dancing With The Stars – claiming she lost a million dollar movie deal because of it.

The 51-year-old actress was talking to her dance partner Keo Mostepe in the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, when she reflected on the influence talk show host Ellen had on her life.

Anne was in a relationship with Ellen, 62, for three years from 1997 and it had a profound effect on her view on life and the prejudices she would come up against.

Speaking on the ABC show, Anne said: “My story is a story that created change in the world, moved the needle for equal rights forward.”

Anne recalled meeting Ellen and then how she helped her challenge those who viewed same-sex relationships in a negative way.