“I'm not an activist; I don't look for controversy. I'm not a political person, but I'm a person with compassion. I care passionately about equal rights. I care about human rights. I care about animal rights.”

American comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer

Ellen DeGeneres is an American comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She began in stand-up comedy in the early 1980s and came to national attention after appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1986. She went on to star in the sitcoms Ellen and The Ellen Show, and later hosted the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2003 to 2022. That program brought her 33 Daytime Emmy Awards and made her a familiar figure in American television.