Ellen DeGeneres returned to US silver screens yesterday for the first time since she married Portia DeRossi at their $33.5 million Beverly Hills estate last month.

Entering the studio to a standing ovation as "Mrs Ellen DeGeneres", the witty talk-show host jokingly referred to her new bride as "the old ball-and-chain" and opened her sixth season listing off some firsts.

"This is the first time I've done the show in a thong," she joked.

"And it's my first show as a married lady. Marriage is great."

Not one to stray too far from politics, she also likened herself and Portia to Republican nominee John McCain and his running partner Sarah Palin.

"Who knew John McCain and I would have something in common? We both chose female running mates," she said.

And she continued to tell everyone how great marriage was.

"I have been married for exactly 24 days and I have now settled into it," she said.

"I'm saying things like 'the little lady will have the caesar salad, no anchovies' and 'I'd love to be there but the old ball-and-chain won't let me out of the house'."

But Ellen's long out and proud history has not been without it's ups and downs. Ellen came out to the world ten years ago during an episode of her self-titled sitcom. She made history, scored a ratings landslide and the episode went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing.

However she almost instantly became a target of the Christian Right. A year later her series was then cancelled due to dropped ratings.

Years later her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of America's best-loved talk shows, having had many high-profile celebrities and even Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Hillary Clinton appear for a chat on the couch.

Already undeniably one of the most prominent lesbians in the US, the 50 year old will also be adding another notch to her belt.

Now Ellen is reported to be shooting an advertising campaign for one of America's top cosmetics companies this week.The reported $1m Cover Girl (£565,000) deal was revealed in the New York Post. Former models for the brand include Drew Barrymore and Rihanna.

Tags: ellen degeneres, gay marriage, portia derossi