"I think they should have Barbie with a buzz cut. "

Lesbian Comedian Really Does Have a Point

Ellen DeGeneres is best known for her stand-up comic abilities, and has recently gained public attention from her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

DeGeneres grew up in Louisiana, and worked a variety of jobs after high school graduation in her local area, including stand-up debuts in New Orleans coffee houses. In 1982 she won a "Funniest Person in America" contest that was sponsored by Showtime. This success incouraged her to move to San Francisco to launch her career. She eventually earned a performance spot on The Tonight Show in 1986, and was very well received. Within months she had become a headliner on the stand-up circuit.

By 1988 she found herself cast into the sitcom These Friends of Mine, which became the 1990's sitcom, Ellen. The comedy was full of quirky humour and well recieved the American audience. In 1997 the show became gained some of it's highest ratings as well as lots of contoversy when her character came out of the closet. The show's ratings soon plummited and was canceled. DeGeneres returned to the stand-up comedy circuit, performing openly gay comedy shows. These routines include Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning and Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now.

In 2001 she returned to television with The Ellen Show. Her character was identified as lesbian, but sexuality was not the central theme of the show. The show recieved low rating and was canceled after one season.

In 1995, Ellen published the autobiography, My Point. . .And I do Have One. She has also performed two highly acclaimed stand-up routines: Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning, and Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now.

DeGeneres played the voice role of "Dory" in Finding Nemo, which received rave reviews. The Ellen DeGeneres Show was nominated for eleven Daytime Emmy Awards, winning four, including Best Talk Show.

DeGeneres launched her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in 2003. The show consistently displays high ratings, which continue to rise, and receives wide-spread critical praise. In it's first season alone, the show was nominated for eleven Daytime Emmy Awards. She entertains her audience by dancing at the beginning of every show.

DeGeneres'relationship ship with Anne Heche ended in 2000 after several years of spotlight gossip. DeGeneres then had a relationship with Alexandra Hedison for several years. She is currently in relationship with actess Portia de Rossi. DeGeneres has one brother, Vance, correspondent for The Daily Show from 1999 to 2001.