Nelle Porter

Nelle Porter
Ally McBeal character
Portia De Rossi in February 2007
First appearance	"The Real World"
Last appearance	"Bygones"
Portrayed by	Portia de Rossi
Information
Occupation	Associate attorney, Cage & Fish
Nationality	American

Nelle Porter is a fictional character on the Fox television show Ally McBeal. She is portrayed by actress Portia de Rossi and appears in Seasons 2 through 5 of the show. A Boston-based lawyer, Nelle joins the fictional law firm of Cage & Fish with the ambition of someday becoming a partner. Romantically involved with partner John Cage during Seasons 2 and 3, she later appears mainly as a source of comic relief. She is also notable for her close friendship with Ling Woo, one of the show’s most remarked-upon characters.

Nelle Porter is introduced in the Season 2 premiere as a young lawyer, known both for her skills as a litigator and for her cold demeanor (hence her nickname, "Sub-Zero Nelle"). Richard Fish brings her in to the firm as a rainmaker, with promises that she will be the first associate to be made partner. Though Fish is the main force behind bringing her into the firm (amid the protests of the associates), it is John Cage who immediately becomes “drawn to her” romantically. Nelle begins dating John early on in the season. Their relationship struggles mostly due to John’s cautious reluctance to go on dates anywhere other than the bar on the ground floor of the building that also houses their firm. John is also initially somewhat insecure in the relationship, as he believes Nelle’s gorgeous looks place her out of his league, romantically speaking. Later, Nelle must deal with insecurities of her own when she begins to feel that their coworker Ally McBeal might be a better match for John than she is. Another early bump in their relationship occurs after Nelle’s fear of frogs inadvertently results in her putting John’s tree frog, Stefan, into a coma.

Nelle is initially treated with hostility by the firm’s other female employees, particularly fellow associate Georgia Thomas and Ally’s secretary, Elaine Vassal. The main focus of this is jealousy of her courtroom skills, as well as her attractiveness. Her perfect blonde hair, for example, becomes a running gag on the show and a source of envy to the other women. Nelle’s character is also known early on for introducing her client Ling Woo to the firm. Ling is also a close friend of Nelle’s, and the two are seen interacting socially outside of work both before and after Ling herself joins the firm as an associate. Nelle is the only member of the firm other than Richard Fish who seems pleased by Ling’s addition to the staff.