Julia Louis-Dresyfus, the queen of comedy

WASHINGTON -- After a 35-year acting career and with two iconic television characters to her name -Elaine Benes of "Seinfeld" and foul-mouthed VicePresident Selina Meyer -- Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been honoured with the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy.

On Sunday night at Washington's Kennedy Center, the 57-year-old actress received a stream of testimonials from celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, Stephen Colbert and 2010 Mark Twain recipient Tina Fey, touching on the multiple aspects of her career.

"We both started comedy in Chicago," said Fey, paying tribute by tracking the similarities between their lives.

"We both moved on to 'Saturday Night Live.' We both lost our virginity to Brad Hall," referring to LouisDreyfus' husband and former SNL cast mate, sitting next to the honoree. Fey praised the "secret precision" of her comedy and her willingness to make her Seinfeld character so flawed.

"Julia let Elaine be selfish and petty and sarcastic and a terrible, terrible dancer," Fey said. "Julia's never been afraid to be unlikable -- not on screen and not in person."

Louis-Dreyfus is the 21st Mark Twain recipient, joining a list that includes Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Carol Burnett. Bill Cosby, the winner in 2009, had his award rescinded earlier this year after he was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault.