© Getty Images

Wife Portia de Rossi - Like her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, DeGeneres was born in January.

© Getty Images

Mama Betty - Her journey begins with her mom, Betty DeGeneres, with whom DeGeneres is very close.

© Getty Images

Stand-up - She began her career as a stand-up comedian.

© Getty Images

Start in television - In the early 1990s, she was a regular on shows like 'Open House' and 'Laurie Hill.'

© Getty Images

'Coneheads' - In 1993, DeGeneres appeared in 'Coneheads.'

© Reuters

'Roseanne' - In 1995, she appeared in 'Roseanne.'

© Getty Images

'Mr. Wrong' - In 1996, she had her first starring role in a film, 'Mr. Wrong,' alongside Bill Pullman.

© Getty Images

Coming out - DeGeneres came out as a lesbian in 1997.

© Getty Images

Oprah - She made the announcement on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show.'

© Getty Images

First Emmy win - That same year, she won her first Emmy, in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

© Getty Images

Ramifications - Like DeGeneres, actress Laura Dern saw few acting roles come her way after appearing in the coming out episode of 'Ellen.'

© Getty Images

Anne Heche - DeGeneres began dating actress Anne Heche shortly after coming out publicly.

© Getty Images

'Goodbye Lover' - DeGeneres appeared alongside Patricia Arquette in 'Goodbye Lover' in 1998.

© Getty Images

'Mad About You' - In 1998, she made a small appearance on popular TV show 'Mad About You.'

© BrunoPress

'The Larry Sanders Show' - She made two appearances on 'The Larry Sanders Show' from 1996 to 1998.

© Getty Images

'Doctor Dolittle' - She voiced a dog in 'Doctor Dolittle' in 1998.

© BrunoPress

From 'Ellen' to 'Edtv' - By the time she appeared in 'Edtv' with Matthew McConaughey in 1999, her sitcom 'Ellen' had been cancelled.

© Getty Images

'The Love Letter' - She starred alongside Tom Selleck in 'The Love Letter' in 1999.

© Getty Images

'If These Walls Could Talk 2' - She played Sharon Stone's lover in the TV movie 'If These Walls Could Talk 2' in 2000, which was directed by her girlfriend Anne Heche.

© Getty Images

Alexandra Hedison - By 2001, DeGeneres was dating Alexandra Hedison.

© Getty Images

Hosting the Emmys - DeGeneres hosted the Emmys in 2001.

© Getty Images

That Björk dress - She famously wore Björk's swan dress during the ceremony.

© Getty Images

'Will & Grace' - DeGeneres appeared on 'Will & Grace' in 2001.

© Getty Images

'Reaching Normal' - Also in 2001, she had a role in 'Reaching Normal' with Andie MacDowell.

© Getty Images

'The Ellen Show' (2001-2002) - Unfortunately, her second attempt at a sitcom only lasted one season.

© Getty Images

Ellen at the centre - DeGeneres was the centre square on 'Hollywood Squares' from 2002 to 2003.

© Getty Images

'Finding Nemo' changes everything - DeGeneres voiced Dory in 'Finding Nemo' in 2003, a move that changed her career trajectory for the better.

© Getty Images

'The Funny Thing Is...' - She releases 'The Funny Thing Is...' in 2003.

© Getty Images

'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' - And landed her own talk show, 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show.'

© Getty Images

Playing herself - From 2003 to 2005, she played herself in 'Pauly Shore Is Dead,' 'The Bernie Mac Show,' 'Six Feet Under,' and 'Joey.'

© Getty Images

Carrying the Olympic torch - In 2004, DeGeneres had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch.

© Getty Images

Spiderwoman - She also made a hilarious Spiderman at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards.

© Getty Images

Best host - She won Best Talk Show Host at the Emmys in 2004, an award she would go on to earn many more times.

© Getty Images

People's Choice Awards - She's also a legend at the People's Choice Awards. She has 20 awards to her name, the most earned by anyone.

© Getty Images

Teens think she's cool - DeGeneres has picked up several surfboards at the Teen Choice Awards as well.

© Getty Images

Kids love her - She's also picked up several statues at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

© Getty Images

Romance blooms - In 2004, DeGeneres started dating her future wife, Portia de Rossi.

© Getty Images

Hosting the Oscars - DeGeneres hosted the Oscars for the first time in 2007.

© Getty Images

Covergirl! - She became a Covergirl in 2008.

© Getty Images

Special causes - Famously charitable, DeGeneres performed at the Stand Up To Cancer event in 2008.

© Getty Images

Comedy specials - She taped 'Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show' in 2008. She also had comedy specials in 2000 and 2003.

© Getty Images

'American Idol' - Already a fan of the show, DeGeneres became a judge on 'American Idol' in 2010, but left after finding it too critical a role.

© Getty Images

'The Simpsons' - She voiced herself on 'The Simpsons' in 2010.

© Getty Images

Animal lover - A big animal lover, DeGeneres was there for the US Postal Service's dedication of their new Animal Rescue: Adopt A Shelter Pet Stamp in 2010.

© Getty Images

Runway model - That same year she walked the runway with designer Richie Rich during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

© Getty Images

Hollywood Walk of Fame - In 2012, she got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

© Getty Images

Mark Twain Prize for American Humor - A huge honour for DeGeneres in 2012: the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

© Getty Images

Ellen goes to Australia - In 2013, DeGeneres took her talk show overseas to her wife's homeland of Australia.

© Getty Images

The Grammys - DeGeneres presented alongside Beyoncé at the Grammys in 2013.

© Getty Images

More charity - Also in 2013, DeGeneres was there for the launch of the Duracell Power a Smile Program.

© Getty Images

Hosting the Oscars again - She hosted the Oscars again in 2014.

© Getty Images

Famous selfie - She is remembered for the selfie she took during the ceremony, which quickly went viral.

© Getty Images

'Ellen's Design Challenge' - Beginning in 2015, she could also be seen on her reality show, 'Ellen's Design Challenge.'

© Getty Images

'One Big Happy' not so happy - But that same year the sitcom she executive produced, 'One Big Happy,' failed to make it past six episodes.

© Getty Images

'The Big Bang Theory' - In 2016, she played herself on 'The Big Bang Theory.'

© Getty Images

'Finding Dory' - That year her voice was also the star of 'Finding Dory,' the sequel to the film that put her back on the map.

© Getty Images

The Presidential Medal of Freedom - And then came perhaps the highest honour of all: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

© Getty Images

Disaster relief concert - DeGeneres participated in 'One Voice: Somos Live! A Concert For Disaster Relief' in 2017.

© Getty Images

'Ellen's Game of Games' - Known for playing games on her talk show, DeGeneres got her own game show in 2017. With new episodes airing in January 2018, she and Portia can catch the show on their birthdays!

© Getty Images