Which actor portrayed Elaine Benes on Seinfeld?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus portrayed Elaine Benes on Seinfeld.

Louis-Dreyfus joined the sitcom as Elaine, Jerry Seinfeld’s ex-girlfriend and one of his closest friends. Elaine became the central female member of the ensemble, alongside Jerry, George Costanza, and Cosmo Kramer. Her sharp temper, comic confidence, and distinctive dance moves made the character one of television comedy’s best-known figures.

Elaine was not part of the original pilot, which centered on the show’s male characters. NBC executives reportedly wanted a woman added before ordering the series, leading to the creation of Elaine. Louis-Dreyfus eventually appeared in 177 of Seinfeld’s 180 episodes, missing the pilot and two other episodes. She later won a Primetime Emmy for the role and became even more celebrated for Veep.