Rosie O'Donnell announces engagement to 'wonderful' police officer girlfriend Elizabeth Rooney

The couple have been together since November 2017

(Getty Images for Family Equality)

American comedian and actor Rosie O’Donnell has announced that she is engaged to girlfriend Elizabeth Rooney after a year of dating.

Speaking to People magazine, O’Donnell confirmed their engagement but explained that a date has not yet been set.

“This is a long time in the future. We both decided that that would be best,” O’Donnell said at the 15th anniversary celebration of her organisation, Rosie’s Theatre Kids, in New York City.

The 56-year-old actor reportedly asked Rooney, 33, to marry her over the summer, but the two decided to keep their news under wraps.

Describing her now-fiancé as a “wonderful woman”, the SMILF star revealed that they have been living in separate cities since they went public in November 2017.

“She lives in Boston now and I live here in New York. It’s been a long-distance thing. It’s been great. I think she’s a wonderful woman,” said O’Donnell.

“She’s very much an equal, she’s very much her own person and loves what she does. She’s a pretty unbelievable young woman,” she added.

O’Donnell went on to joke about the 23-year age gap between the pair, adding: “I keep telling her I’m too old for her. But she doesn’t seem to care.

“She’s like, ‘I was in the Army! I put my life on the line every day you think I don’t know who I want to date?’

“I’m like, ‘Alright I guess that’s true.’ She has a lot of good points.”

Rooney also shared the news on her Instagram account with a picture showing off her engagement ring alongside the caption “YES” and an engagement ring emoji.

The photo has since received hundreds of likes and comments from people offering their congratulations.

“Wow that is awesome. Love that beautiful ring. I wish you both nothing but the very best. Congratulations,” one person wrote.

Another added: “If Rosie wants any tips on being a cop’s wife, give me a call.”