Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres: Lesbian Icon? Like it or not.

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.

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.

Something Fishy: Although Ellen was always popular with her gay and lesbian fans, she earned her way back into mainstream America's hearts with her portrayal of Dory a ditzy fish in the hit animated comedy, Finding Nemo.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Ellen's true staying power has been tested in her super hit talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Now entering its second year, 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.

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