Rosie O’Donnell hid her split from partner Kelli Carpenter for two years.

The lesbian actress-turned-talk show host recently confirmed the couple had separated during an appearance on Howard Stern's U.S. radio show, revealing the pair had "come to a point where we are seeing (if) what will make everyone happiest is maybe to not live together" - for the benefit of their four children.

O'Donnell initially denied rumours suggesting Carpenter had actually left the marital home back in 2007 - but she came clean during her own Sirius radio show last week.

During a conversation about her pet Chihuahua Misty, O'Donnell said, "What happened (was) when Kelli moved out two years ago, I got the dog. Because I wanted another child or something to love. And I got the dog."

O'Donnell and Carpenter married back in 2004.