Weekly : Lesbian or bi-sexual actress

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen Lee DeGeneres; born January 26, 1958 is an American stand-up comedian, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and is also a judge on American Idol, having joined the show in its ninth season.

She has hosted both the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmys. As a film actress, she starred in Mr. Wrong, appeared in EDtv and The Love Letter, and provided the voice of Dory in the Disney-Pixar animated film Finding Nemo. She also starred in two television sitcoms, Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and The Ellen Show from 2001 to 2002. In 1997, during the fourth season of Ellen, she came out publicly as a lesbian in an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Shortly afterwards, her character Ellen Morgan also came out to a therapist played by Winfrey and the series went on to explore various LGBT issues as well as the coming out process. She has won twelve Emmys and numerous awards for her work and charitable efforts.

Ellen DeGeneres: First to Come Out:

Ellen DeGeneres' claim to fame is that she came out in 1997, the same time her sit-com character, Ellen Morgan came out on the TV show Ellen.

Ellen the Spokesperson:

Ellen came out on the cover of Time magazine, proclaiming, "Yep, I'm gay." This historic event caused both praise and scorn and cast Ellen into a limelight she never wanted. "I never wanted to be a spokesperson for the gay community," she said in Time.

In Love with Anne Heche:

At about the same time she came out, she told the world of her relationship with actor Anne Heche. That relationship ended in 2000, with Ellen heartbroken and depressed. She told the Advocate, "I felt like I would never live again. But you do."

All Good Things Must End:

Ellen's show, Ellen was cancelled in 1998, despite good ratings. There was simply too much backlash toward the network and advertisers about the gay content.

If These Walls Could Talk Two:

Ellen starred in another short-lived sitcom, The Ellen Show, in which she again played a lesbian. It was pulled after one season. But in 2000, Ellen starred and produced the hit HBO special, If These Walls Could Talk Two where she shares a loving and sexy scene with Sharon Stone.

Ellen's Loves:

Shortly after her break-up with Anne Heche, Ellen began dating photographer Alexandra Hedison in 2001. Alex and Ellen broke-up in late 2004 and Ellen began dating Portia de Rossi.

Ellen & Portia:

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were married on August 16th, 2008 in a small ceremony at their home.

Will Ellen & Portia have children? "Never say never," Ellen said in People. "When I'm around babies, I just melt."

The Ellen DeGeneres Show:

Ellen's true staying power has been tested in her super hit talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The Ellen DeGeneres Show has become popular with middle American women, who tune in daily to watch a lesbian-next-door chit-chat with some of Hollywood's most famous celebrities.

A True Lesbian Icon:

Although she never wanted to be a political figure or a spokesperson for the gay community, Ellen has walked through the fire and blazed a path for all gay and lesbian actors to come after her. She went through a period of intense depression, but has risen to be one of the most popular women on television.

Sources: lesbianlife and Wikipedia