The Lady Of Humor And An Inspiration

“Between all the nominees here tonight, you’ve made over 1,400 films, 1,400 films, and you’ve gone to a total of six years of college!” – Ellen DeGeneres while hosting Oscar, 2014.
Witty, on-the-spot funny gags, eternal smile and energy personified.
Yes, that’s how we can sum up Ellen DeGeneres in a few phrases. We can keep saying more, but it will never end.
It’s been a long journey for perhaps Hollywood’s most popular female comedian in the recent era. Who thought the girl tried comedy for the first time in her childhood day to thwart “stage fright” will become a celebrity? This is true. During a public speaking event, the frightened Ellen used humor to fight her fear. It was a hit, and subsequently she started receiving stand-up comedy roles. Her performance as a comedian began in 1981 at Clyde’s Comedy Club, and later she donned many roles as a television actress and hostess.

Facts About Ellen DeGeneres:

1. Ellen DeGeneres was born on January 26, 1958 in Louisiana. Her father was a salesman and mother was a working woman. Her mother got divorced with her father when Ellen was a teenager.
2. During the initial years, Ellen worked as a bartender, a paralegal, a vacuum salesgirl, waitress, retail clerk and a house painter.
3. Ellen follows the religion called “Christian Science”.
4. In 1997, Ellen came out in public as gay on her show. That episode was named “The Puppy Episode”. A record high, 45 million viewers watched it.
5. Besides her talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, she was also a judge on American Idol during the Season 9.
6. Ellen’s talk show won the Daytime Emmy award for “Outstanding Talk Show Host” many times. Overall she won 62 various awards and was nominated 61 times till 2014.
7. In 2007, Forbes magazine listed Ellen’s net worth as $65 million.
8. Ellen DeGeneres is a vegetarian and against animal cruelty. She is also an active PETA member.
9. During the devastating ‘Hurricane Katrina’, Ellen set up a relief fund, which raised seven million dollars.
10. Ellen turned down a role in the popular TV show Friends before starting her talk show “Ellen”.
11. Also, Sandra Bullock’s in “Speed” in 1994 was first offered to Ellen.
12. In 1982, Ellen was voted the “Funniest Person in America” and also the “Best Female Club Stand-up” at the Comedy Awards in 1991.
13. Ellen DeGeneres penned down her biography in 1995 with the title “My Point… and I Do Have One.” The book became number one on the New York Times bestsellers list. It also remained on the “Publishers Weekly” list of bestselling books for 24 weeks.
14. In 2012, Ellen was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This award was earlier given to celebrities like Tina Fey, Bill Cosby and Will Ferrell.
15. She did the voiceover of Dory in the computer-animated drama “Finding Nemo.”
16. American Express signed Ellen as one of its spokespersons for a global ad campaign. The funny TV commercials featured her working and dancing with animals.
17. In one of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, she pleaded Oprah Winfrey to feature with her on the cover of her “O” magazine. Oprah finally agreed, and the duo was featured on the magazine cover in December of 2009.
18. In one of her talk shows in 2012, Ellen challenged Michelle Obama to a push-up competition and was a good loser.
19. The best seat in during “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is reserved for Ellen’s mother, Betty. It’s an apt tribute to an inspirational mother. Betty has been making regular appearances at her daughter’s show for years.