American actress Clea Lewis was born on July 19, 1965 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. A graduate of Brown University, she began acting in 1991, first appearing as a guest on the comedy Doogie Howser, M.D. In 1992, she made her film debut, appearing in a small role on the comedy Hero. That same year, she signed on for her first regular television role, starring in the comedy Flying Blind. She played the role of Megan, one of the the eccentric roommates of female lead Alicia (T?a Leoni). She played the role until the series was cancelled after one season, in 1993.
Lewis’ most popular role, perhaps, is that as Audrey Penney on the successful sitcom Ellen. Her character is the annoying friend of bookstore owner Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres), with whom she has a love-hate relationship. Initially negative in an irritatingly nice way, she later became excessively (and still irritatingly) positive. Her catchphrase—“hello, Ellen!”—rang throughout the series’ four-year run. Her most recent regular television role was in the short-lived comedy Andy Barker, P.I., where she plays Jenny Barker, the wife of the title character (Andy Richter) who gradually warms to his new profession. The series ran for six episodes before being cancelled.
Lewis has also appeared in several movies, including The Rich Man’s Wife, Scotch and Milk, The Office Party and Perfect Stranger. She is also known for her voiceover work, with her nasal squeaky voice appearing in several animated programs. In the Disney cartoon Pepper Ann, she voiced the character of Nicky Little, the title character’s intelligent best friend. She also voiced several minor characters on the feature Ice Age: The Meltdown. She has also performed for the stage, having appeared in several productions across the country, as well as on the Broadway production of Absurd Person Singular in 2005.