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“It sounds trite, but ina consumer-based
society, this can be an incredibly effective
form of activism,” Louis-Dreyfus told the
environmental news site Grist.org. “When
Leo DiCaprio or Cameron Diaz is seen
driving a hybrid car to the Oscars, it has
far-reaching influence. It helps shake off
the idea that environmentalism is ahippie-
crunchy-granola fringemovement.”
And that is exactly what Julia Louis-
Dreyfus is also trying to do with her fame.
Her journey from comedienne to crusading
environmentalist was gradual, marked by
a series of turning points that came as her
celebrity increased. Now she serves on the
boards of several environmental organiza-
tions, offering themher fame and practical
ideas. But as important to her as what she
does is how she is perceived by the public.
She hopes to be a living example of how
to integrate being green into practically
every aspect of life. “Julia practices what
she preaches,” says Mark Gold, president
of Heal the Bay, an organization founded
in 1985 to stop the dumping of sewage in
SantaMonicaBay andwhose boardLouis-
Dreyfus serves on. “Shewas one of the first
people driving an electric car, one of the
first people in the celebrity arenawho built
a greenhome. She’smade the environment
her cause. It is reallyhow she livesher life.”
As the sayinggoes,
it’s not easy being
green. That’s especially true when you’re
rich and famous. The scrutiny focused on
celebrities is— perhaps justifiably—more
intense. But that hasn’t stopped Louis-
Dreyfus from working hard for both the
planet andher career, and, really, that’s not
so surprising. She was also determined to
connect with audiences again— as a char-
acter
not
named Elaine. Determination is
a streak that runs deep in her family. The
eldest of five sisters, she comes from “a long
line of sarcastic women,” she has said. Her
grandmother, inparticular, “was verybeau-
tiful, sarcastic, and a big drinker,” Louis-
Dreyfus tells me. “She was very chic, knew
how todresswell, andwas incredibly funny.
Therewassortofarealkindofdarksenseof
humor that ran throughmymother’s side,
and I think a lot of it had to do
[
with the
fact
]
that therewas a lot of tragedy.”For ex-
ample, her grandmother, Grace, oncehad a
