Anne Heche’s Childhood Included Time Spent in an Amish Community Believing She Had a Split Personality

Actress Anne Heche has lived several lifetimes in her 53 years, from desperate poverty and living in an Amish community, to the bright lights of Hollywood, she’s sampled it all, and survived to tell the tale.

Anne Heche passed away at 53, a week after being involved in a car crash in the Mar Vista neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The accident destroyed a property and left the Emmy-winning actress in critical condition.

She had a distinguished career in acting over the last four decades. Her first appearance in front of the camera was on the TV show “Another World.” Her roles in the films “Psycho,” “Six Days Seven Nights,” and “Donnie Brasco” brought her the greatest fame.

Anne Heche at HBO’s Post Emmy Awards Reception in 2017 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

NIGHTMARISH CHILDHOOD

Anne was born into a profoundly dysfunctional family. She was the youngest of five siblings, and her family relocated quite frequently during her childhood. They moved 11 times in the first 12 years of the actress’ life.

Her ostensibly religious father, Donald Heche, was a part-time church piano player. They spent a brief time living in an Amish community, but the people in charge of collecting their rent made it very difficult for them to remain there for any time.

Anne seemed oblivious to the world around her. Her family never encouraged her to read anything besides the Bible. She was never taken to the movies and never watched any television shows. She said:

“My understanding of pop culture was zero. I didn’t have a trajectory in mind where I thought, ‘Oh, I wish I could be her,’ or ‘Wow, she’s famous.'”

But behind the veil of pious respectability, Donald committed numerous homosexual affairs and sexually abused Anne until she was 12. Anne created a fantasy world to escape from her father’s mistreatment.

In this imaginary realm, she created “Celestia,” whom she said was one of her two personalities. When the actress was 13, Donald died of AIDS. It was the end of the abuse, but not the grinding poverty and the heartbreak.

Just a few months after their father’s death, Anne’s brother Nathan died in a car accident, which the late actress believed that it was his way of ending his life.

Her sister Cynthia had died in infancy, so her mother Nancy was left to raise her three surviving children, the late icon, Abigail, and Susan, as best she could. All three girls had jobs and contributed to the family budget.

A RAY OF HOPE

At 16, Anne was spotted by a talent scout at a school play and offered a part in a daytime soap opera, but her mother insisted that she had to finish high school first.

But when the talent scout offered a role in “Another World again” after Anne’s graduation, Nancy forbade her entry into show business. Still, by then, the future actress was old enough to make her own decisions and headed for Hollywood.

As Anne reflected on the painful experiences she had had during her childhood, she realized she tried her best to make her parents happy and to persuade them to love her in return.

She said her desire for their affection as a child motivated her to pursue a career in Hollywood. She aimed to win the love and respect of both her mother, who loved Jesus and her father, who had long adored movie stars.

MEETING THE MONSTER

“Another World” showcased Anne’s talent and her gamine looks, and she was asked to audition for the 1996 Miramax production, “Beautiful Girls.” Anne was offered one of the lead roles alongside Mira Sorvino, Natalie Portman, and Uma Thurman.

Then, Anne was asked to attend a meeting in Harvey Weinstein’s hotel room. When Weinstein exposed himself, Anne walked out, and she was fired the next day.

Two actresses, Mira and Uma, would come forward as the Weinstein scandal broke and revealed that the movie mogul had sexually molested them. Anne spoke of Hollywood in Weinstein’s heyday:

“Harvey’s little whorehouse. It really was. And when the story broke, it brought everything back to the surface.”

Anne believed that many of the young women who become actresses were targeted by Weinstein because he sensed their vulnerability.

She also said her previous experience with abuse had given her the strength to walk away, and saved her from the fate of Rose McGowan and so many others of Weinstein’s victims.

Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres in 1997 | Source: Getty Images

CRASHING CAREER

Anne’s career grew by leaps and bounds, and she starred in a series of hit movies, including “Donnie Brasco,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Wag the Dog.” Then she fell in love, and it all fell to pieces.

She fell in love with comedian Ellen DeGeneres, and the two women became the first openly gay female couple in Hollywood. However, the consequence of their relationship resulted in the cancellation of Ellen’s sitcom, and Anne’s career dried up.

Anne and the acclaimed TV show host were considered pioneers in the industry today, but back in the mid-1990s, being openly gay women was the kiss of death.

END OF LOVE

The relationship with Ellen lasted for three years and ended when Anne left the comedian for Coleman Laffoon. Anne married Coleman, a cameraman she had met in 1999 during Ellen’s stand-up comedy tour.

Anne and Coleman welcomed a son, Homer, in 2002. The couple divorced in 2009 after Anne became romantically involved with her “Men in Trees” co-star James Tupper.

James and Anne welcomed a son, Atlas, in 2009. They were together until 2018, and when they broke up, it led to a bitter fight over who would get custody of their son. They also fought over settlements for child support.

The actress claimed that James earns more than she does due to the success of the series “Big Little Lies” and “A Million Little Things,” while her own career is currently less successful.

IN LOVE AGAIN

Anne had many high-profile relationships with other prominent figures over her career. In addition to Ellen, James, and Coleman, she was romantically involved with her “Hung” co-star Thomas Jane in 2019.

Unfortunately, Anne and Thomas’ relationship did not last long, and they eventually split up in 2020. Thomas felt devastated when he learned about Anne’s car crash news.

He admitted that even though they were no longer together, he still loved the famous actress. He also described the brilliant actress as “one of the true talents of her generation.”

Thomas Jane and Anne Heche at the 3rd Annual Mammoth Film Festival on February 28, 2020, in Mammoth Lakes, California. | Source: Getty Images

Unfortunately, Anne passed away as a result of the tragic incident. A family representative stated that the actress’s life support was “taken off.” The news devastated many of Anne’s friends and loved ones.

Anne’s former romantic partners were equally devastated by her demise, and each paid their tributes. Ellen took to Instagram to express her sadness and sympathies to the family of her late ex-girlfriend.

Like Ellen, Coleman shared his grief on social media, saying he loved and missed Anne. He said that his ex-wife’s death crushed his son Homer‘s heart, and it was difficult for his son to accept that his mother was no longer with them.

Meanwhile, Heche’s ex-boyfriend and “Men in Trees” co-star James simply wrote “Love Your Forever” on Instagram, along with a picture of the late star.

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