Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been on television shows.
Elaine Marie Benes [ ˈbɛnᵻs ] is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld ( 1989 -- 1998 ) , played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus . Julia Louis-Dreyfus . She is known for her work in television comedy , including Saturday Night Live ( 1982 -- 85 ) , Seinfeld ( 1989 -- 98 ) , The New Adventures of Old Christine ( 2006 -- 10 ) , and Veep ( 2012 -- present ) . Her breakthrough came in 1990 with a nine-season run playing Elaine Benes on Seinfeld , one of the most critically and commercially successful sitcoms of all time . The Primetime Emmy Award is an American award bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences ( ATAS ) in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming .