Julia Louis-Dreyfus

At 63 years old, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has this physical status:

Julia Scarlett Louis-Dreyfus Hall (born January 13, 1961) is an American actress, comedian, producer, and singer.

She is best known for her appearances in the television comedy series Saturday Night Live (1982–1985), Seinfeld (1989–2010), The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006–2019), and Veep (2012–2019).

She is one of the most coveted actresses in American television history, winning more Emmy Awards and more Screen Actor Guild Awards than any other actress (tying for the most acting awards in Emmy Awards) (Tite: Cloris Leachman ties for the most acting wins). Louis-Dreyfus came to fame as a comedian in The Practical Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois, which culminated in her appearance in the sketch show Saturday Night Live from 1982 to 1985.

Elaine Benes' nine-season tenure on Seinfeld, one of the oldest and commercially successful sitcoms of all time, was her breakthrough.

Christine Campbell of The New Adventures of Old Christine, a television series, and Selina Meyer in Veep, a seven-season series on HBO, were among her other notable television appearances.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Enough Said (2013) were among her film roles.

She has appeared in the animated films A Bug's Life (1998), Planes (2013), and the forthcoming Onward. Louis-Dreyfus has received eleven Emmy Awards, eight for acting and three for producing, totaling 24 nominations in her career.

She has also received a Golden Globe Award, nine Screen Actors Guild Awards, five American Comedy Awards, five American Comedy Awards, and two Critics' Choice Television Awards.

Louis-Dreyfus was a member of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 and in 2014, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

On the annual Time 100 list, Time named Louis-Dreyfus as one of the 100 most influential people in the country.

She was named as America's highest comedy award in 2018 by the Kennedy Center for American Humor.

Early life

Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus was born in New York City on January 13, 1961. Judith (née LeFever), an American-born author and special needs tutor, and Gérard Louis-Dreyfus, a French-born father, chaired the Louis Dreyfus Company. Pierre Louis-Dreyfus, her paternal grandfather, was president of the Louis Dreyfus Group, was a member of a Jewish family in Alsace and served as a cavalry officer and war member of the French Resistance during World War II. She is also a great-granddaughter of Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, who established the Louis Dreyfus Group, a French commodities and shipping conglomerate that family members also control; and is vaguely related to Alfred Dreyfus of the famous Dreyfus case.

Her parents divorced in 1962, one year after Louis-Dreyfus' birth. Julia Bowles, a fourth-year student at the George Washington University Medical School, married L. Thompson Bowles, dean of the George Washington University Medical School, and Louis-Dreyfus received a half-sister Lauren Bowles, who was also an actor, after moving to Washington, D.C. Louis-Dreyfus spent her childhood in many states and countries, including Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia, as a result of her stepfather's work with Project HOPE. In 1979, she graduated from the all-girls Holton Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland. "There were things I did in school that, had there been boys in the classroom, I would have been less motivated to do," she later said. For instance, I was president of the honor society.

Louis-Dreyfus was a student at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. She studied theatre and appeared in the Mee-Ow Show, a student-run improv and sketch comedy revue, before dropping out during her junior year to work at Saturday Night Live. She received an honorary doctor of arts degree from Northwestern University in 2007.

Personal life

Lauren Bowles, Louis-Dreyfus' maternal half-sister, is also an actor. Phoebe and Emma, the former of whom died in August 2018, also have two paternal half-sisters. Robert Louis-Dreyfus, one of her cousins, was both a former CEO of Adidas and the club's founder, Olympique de Marseille.

While at Northwestern, Louis-Dreyfus met with future husband and Saturday Night Live comedian Brad Hall. They married in 1987 and have two sons together. Her older son, who has appeared on The Tonight Show, is a singer-songwriter. Louis-Dreyfus was welcomed back to Northwestern to earn an honorary Doctor of Arts degree.

Louis-Dreyfus has said she has a lot of admiration for "women who are not afraid of making themselves look bad or foolish to get a laugh," and she cites her acting heroes as Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr, Valerie Harper, and Cloris Leachman. Tina Fey has said that Louis-Dreyfus inspired her character Liz Lemon from the award-winning NBC comedy series 30 Rock.

Louis-Dreyfus revealed on Twitter on September 28, 2017, a day after receiving a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Veep. "One in eight women has breast cancer," she said. I'm the one today. The good news is that I have the most devoted and caring family and friends, as well as fantastic insurance throughout my union. The bad news is that not all women are so fortunate, so let's fight all cancers and make universal healthcare a reality." On the October 18, 2018 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, she revealed herself. She was cancer-free.

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Career

Louis-Dreyfus performed in The Second City, one of Chicago's most well-known improvisational theatre companies, as part of her comedic training. It was her appearance with The Practical Theatre Company at their "Golden 50th Anniversary Jubilee" that culminated in her being asked to join the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live at the age of 21.

Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1982 to 1985, becoming the youngest female cast member in the program's history. She appeared on SNL alongside many actors who later rose to fame, including Eddie Murphy, Jim Belushi, Billy Crystal, and Martin Short. It was during her third and final year on SNL that she met writer Larry David during his first year on the show that she appeared. Seinfeld was later co-created by David. Louis-Dreyfus has said that her appearance on SNL was a "Cinderella-getting-to-go-ball" type of experience; however, she has also admitted that sometimes it was tense, and that she "didn't know how to navigate the waters of show business in general and specifically doing a live sketch-comedy show."

On Saturday Night Live, recurring characters.

Louis-Dreyfus appeared in many films, including Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Soul Man (1986), and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), in which she appeared alongside fellow SNL alumnus Chevy Chase. Louis-Dreyfus appeared in The Art of Being Nick, an NBC sitcom spin-off of Family Ties starring Scott Valentine in 1987. Louis-Dreyfus, the pilot's sarcastic and materialistic neighbor, was retained by producer Gary David Goldberg for a role on his new sitcom Day by Day as the sarcastic and materialistic neighbor Eileen Swift. On NBC, Day by Day, a 1988 prime minister, aired for two seasons before being cancelled.

Louis-Dreyfus made a name for herself in the early 1990s as the role of Elaine Benes on NBC's Seinfeld. She appeared in all but three episodes during her nine seasons in which she appeared in nine seasons. "The Seinfeld Chronicles" was one of the episodes in which she did not appear because her character was not meant to be a part of the series. It was only after the first episode that NBC executives felt the program was too male-centric, and they requested that creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld add a woman to the cast. In the DVD commentary, it was revealed that the addition of a female character was the primary reason for commissioning the show. Louis-Dreyfus was nominated for the role over many other actresses who later found fame on television, including Patricia Heaton and Megan Mullally.

Seinfeld says Louis-Dreyfus' ability to eat a peanut M&M without breaking the peanut is aptly describing the actress: "She cracks you up without cracking your nuts."

Louis-Dreyfus received critical acclaim for her role on the series, as well as being a regular winner and nominee at television award shows in the 1990s. She received two Golden Globe Award nominations, one in 1994 and two in 1995, 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998, winning five times in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, and 1998. She received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1996, an honour she was nominated for on seven occasions from 1992 to 1998. Louis-Dreyfus said the award was a "shocker," and that being in both positions, it was "much better to win than to lose."

Jerry Seinfeld, a comedian from 1998, decided to end the series after nine seasons. On May 14, the series finale aired on May 14th, making it one of the most watched television shows in history, with over 76 million viewers tuning in.

She appeared in several films, including Fathers' Day, opposite Robin Williams and Billy Crystal, and Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry, during her time on Seinfeld.

Louis-Dreyfus lent her voice as Snake's girlfriend Gloria in the Simpsons episode "A Hunka Burns in Love" after a successful Pixar film A Bug's Life. She made several special guest appearances on Seinfeld co-creator Larry David's show Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2001, playing herself literally struggling to get rid of the "curse" by arranging to appear in a film in which she would play an actress plagued by a Seinfeld-like curse.

Louis-Dreyfus created Watching Ellie, a new single-camera sitcom that debuted on NBC in February 2002, after many years away from a regular television job. The series was produced by husband Brad Hall and co-starred Steve Carell and Lauren Bowles of Louis-Dreyfus. The show's first intention was to provide viewers with a "slice of life" from Ellie Riggs' life, a Southern California jazz musician. Many commentators panned the show's low-left-hand corner of the screen, saying it was pointless and "did nothing for the film" in the first season. Overall, the show received mixed reviews, but it debuted well with over 16 million viewers tuning in for the series premiere and an average audience of about 10 million viewers per week.

When the series returned to a second season in 2003, it saw a decline in viewership, with eight million viewers per week falling to eight million viewers per week. Between seasons one and two's production, the show had undergone a dramatic change in terms of design. The first season of the single-camera style, but the second season was released as a traditional multicamera sitcom filmed in front of a live studio audience. The show was cancelled by NBC in May 2003, with dwindling viewership and struggling to hold the numbers from its Frasier lead-in.

Following the cancellation of Watching Ellie by NBC, the media started spreading rumors of a so-called "Seinfeld curse" that claimed that no of the former Seinfeld actors would ever be able to resurrect themselves in the television business. Louis-Dreyfus dismissed the tale as "a made-up thing by the media," while Seinfeld co-creator Larry David said that the curse was "completely ridiculous."

Louis-Dreyfus was particularly interested in Susan Mayer's appearance on Desperate Housewives, the position that eventually fell to Teri Hatcher. Instead, Louis-Dreyfus performed as Maggie Lizer, Michael Bluth's deceitful prosecutor and love interest, on Emmy-winning comedy Arrested Development from 2004 to 2005.

Louis-Dreyfus was cast in the title role of a recent CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine in 2005. Will & Grace, Kari Lizer's writer and producer created the series and its story. The series told the tale of Christine Campbell, a single mother who works hard to keep a positive relationship with her ex-husband when running a women's gym. The series premiered on CBS in March 2006 to a 15 million audience and was the network's first ratings champion.

Louis-Dreyfus received acclaim for her appearance on the program, with Brian Lowry of Variety claiming that Louis-Dreyfus broke the so-called "Seinfeld curse [...] for one of the finest traditional half-hours to come along in a while." Louis-Dreyfus' appearance on the series "proved her to be one of the most amusing women on television," Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times claimed. Louis-Dreyfus received the Primetime Emmy Award in a Comedy Series in 2006 for her appearance in the first season. "I'm not someone who believes in curses," she said in her acceptance address, but curse this, baby." She received five Emmy Award nominations, three consecutive Satellite Award nominations, two Screen Actor Guild Award nominations, and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award throughout the course of the series. Due to Old Christine's popularity, she received two nominations for a People's Choice Award in 2007.

Louis-Dreyfus hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in May 2006, becoming the first female former cast member to return to the show in a hosting capacity. In her opening monologue, she parodying the so-called "Seinfeld curse" with her Seinfeld co-star Jason Alexander and Jerry Seinfeld. Louis-Dreyfus was invited to host SNL on March 17, 2007, and again on April 17, 2016. In two Simpsons episodes, Louis-Dreyfus reprised her role as Gloria: "I Don't Want to Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and 2008's "Sex, Pies, and Idiot Scrapes" (Ida. In four episodes of Larry David's second season's comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, she appeared with the rest of the cast. The reunion shows attracted a lot of media interest, and the HBO series got a good showing.

At the TV Land Awards in 2009, Louis-Dreyfus was given the honorary award for Legacy of Laughter. Lucille Ball and Mike Myers were among the previous winners. Amy Poehler, a friend, presented her with the award. Louis-Dreyfus was named the 2,407th celebrity on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 for her contributions to the television industry as both an actor and a comedian. The actor's name was initially written incorrectly, but he was introduced with Louis-Dreyfus's name. In her last name, it was missing both the 'o' and the hyphen. The actor was corrected, and the misspelled portion was deleted and presented to the actor. Clark Gregg, Larry David, Eric McCormack, and Jason Alexander were among the celebrity guests at the dinner, which included current and former colleagues from her time in career, including Clark Gregg, Larry David, Eric McCormack, and Jason Alexander.

On May 18, 2010, after 5 years, old Christine was fired by CBS after 5 years. Following CBS' disbandment, talks were held with ABC for the show to be revived on the network, but no plans were fulfilled.

Louis-Dreyfus appeared in the third season of the web series Web Therapy, starring Lisa Kudrow in the spring of 2010. Louis-Dreyfus was the sister of Fiona Wallice's main character, who gives her therapy online. Louis-Dreyfus' appearance from the web series appeared in the second season, which aired in July 2012.

Louis-Dreyfus appeared on live broadcast of Emmy-winning comedy 30 Rock in fall 2010. Liz Lemon was a teenager in Tina Fey's role in the cutaway shots. Louis-Dreyfus was one of many Saturday Night Live alumni on the show, including Rachel Dratch, Bill Hader, and Tracy Morgan and Fey herself. On NBC, Louis-Dreyfus appeared in a "Women of SNL" special on November 1, 2010.

Louis-Dreyfus produced her first short film, Picture Paris, in May and June 2011. This was the first time the two couples had collaborated since their early-2000s NBC comedy Watching Ellie. Hall wrote and directed the film, while Louis-Dreyfus played the lead role of an ordinary woman with an extraordinary obsession with Paris. The film premiered on January 29, 2012 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and has received a lot of critical attention. On December 17, 2012, HBO announced its television premiere.

Louis-Dreyfus had been cast in the lead role of US Vice President Selina Meyer in a recent satirical comedy series titled Veep, first reported in early 2011. The series was developed for a first season of eight episodes. Louis-Dreyfus would appear as a producer of the series in addition to her acting role. Louis-Dreyfus met with Al Gore, senators, editors, editors, chiefs of various departments, and schedulers in preparation for her role. Before filming began, Louis-Dreyfus praised HBO for allowing the cast and crew to participate in a "prolonged pre-production process."

The first season was shot in Baltimore in the fall of 2011, and the series premiered on April 22, 2012. Critics generally applauded the premiere episode, particularly Louis-Dreyfus's performance. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Selina Meyer was her "best post-Seinfeld role" to date and that she gives "an Emmy Award-worthy effort," although the Los Angeles Times claimed that she is "one of the medium's top comediennes." Louis-Dreyfus was dubbed one of the "most magnetic and naturally funny woman on television" by the Huffington Post after the first season's success, claiming that she is the "most magnetic and naturally funny woman on TV since Mary Tyler Moore."

Louis-Dreyfus has received multiple awards, most notable six consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series from 2012 to 2017. She Emmy Awards for Veep, following previous victories for Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine, culminating in her becoming the first woman to win an acting award for three separate comedy series. Her sixth win in Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2016 tied for the most awards in the category for both Mary Tyler Moore and Candice Bergen. She won her sixth straight Emmys and eighth overall, putting her in a tie with Cloris Leachman for the most Emmys won by a performer. She was also nominated as one of the top TV show producers for Veep from 2012 to 2014, but the show lost to Modern Family on three occasions. Nevertheless, the show received the top award from 2015 to 2017.

Louis-Dreyfus has also received five Critics' Choice Television Award nominations, winning twice in 2013 and 2014, ten Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, winning twice in 2014 and 2017, and five Television Critics Association Award nominations, winning twice in 2014 and 2014. In addition, her appearance has earned her five Satellite Award nominations and five straight Golden Globe Award nominations.

In the role of Rochelle, Louis-Dreyfus lent her voice to the 2013 animated film Planees. The film has grossed more than $200 million at the box office worldwide to date. She appeared in Enough Said, directed by Nicole Holofcener, which was released on September 18, 2013. This was her debut as a lead actress in a full length film. The film received rave reviews from film critics, judging it as one of the best-reviewed films of 2013. Rotten Tomatoes is a website that publishes articles about Louis-Dreyfus's performance on 152 reviews, with many of them praising Louis-Dreyfus's performance. Several Best Actress nominations for her role in the film at award shows, including the Golden Globe Awards, Satellite Awards, Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and the American Comedy Awards were among the Golden Globe Awards.

Louis-Dreyfus has appeared in a number of television commercials for Old Navy since December 2014.

She hosted Saturday Night Live for the third time on April 16, 2016, with musical guest Nick Jonas. Elaine Benes of Seinfeld played her role in the episode's cold open.

Louis-Dreyfus, opposite Will Ferrell, was on TV in 2020 for the comedy-drama Downhill. The film premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was theatrically released on February 14. In Pixar's Onward opposite Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, she portrayed a suburban elf mother. On March 6, 2020, the film was released.

Louis-Dreyfus got a multi-year contract with Apple TV+ in January 2020. She will produce new Apple TV+ projects as both an executive producer and actor under the agreement.

Louis-Dreyfus appeared in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in 2021, although she was not supposed to debut in the film Black Widow (where she appears in the post credit scene).

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