Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comic, television host, and actress. She is best known for hosting the syndicated talk show, *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*. In addition to her hosting duties, she served as a judge on *American Idol* for one year, joining the show during its ninth season.

Career Highlights

DeGeneres has hosted both the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmys. As a film actress, her roles include *Mr. Wrong*, *EDtv*, and *The Love Letter*. Her voice acting work is notable for her portrayal of Dory in the Disney-Pixar animated film *Finding Nemo*. She also starred in two television sitcoms: *Ellen*, which ran from 1994 to 1998, and *The Ellen Show*, from 2001 to 2002.

During the fourth season of *Ellen* in 1997, DeGeneres publicly came out as a lesbian in an appearance on *The Oprah Winfrey Show*. Following this, her character, Ellen Morgan, also came out to a therapist played by Winfrey. The series subsequently explored various LGBT issues, including the coming out process.

Awards and Recognition

For her work in *Finding Nemo*, DeGeneres received a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress, making it the first and only time a voice performance won the award. Throughout her career, she has accumulated twelve Emmys and numerous other awards acknowledging her professional accomplishments and charitable efforts.