Julia Louis-Dreyfus talks about being a National Medal of Arts recipient

Well congratulations. Thank you. And when did you first learn that you were winning this? Not that long ago. It was pretty, it was a little bit last minute. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

And this is technically the 2021. Yes, because I had to pause the whole thing because of the pandemic, you know. Yeah. Did you ever, this is one of those that's given to people who are making lasting contributions to American culture and entertainment. Yes. When you read something like that, yes, you've won a lot of things, but where does this one rank and get all the other awards? Well, to be honest with you, I think there's been a bit of a clerical error. So I would prefer for you not to delve too deep.

I think it was, I think I'm not necessarily supposed to be on this list, but delighted to be here nonetheless. You're no stranger to this place. I'm not. Given your past work. Yes. How many, did you ever, I should know this, but again, this, like your award, this was sprung on me at the last minute. Okay.

Did you ever get to visit and do any research? Yes. Yes. And you talked to the guy who's now president. I talked to the guy when he was vice president. I did. And what advice did he give you about being vice president? Oh, God. Well, he told me, actually, he told me about the agreement that he made with President Obama, because, you know, the vice, from a constitutional point of view, the vice president really is, has only really two tasks.

Right. And, but he made a deal with the president and he was telling me about that. What was interesting is that Al Gore, with whom I also met, said the same thing with Clinton. And I think he got the advice from Walter Mondale. So there you go. It's the whole last in the room. Correct.

Partner. That's right. Okay. Yeah. You know what always impressed me about Veepe? What? You've been in that building, right? I have indeed. You've seen the floors, right? Well, I didn't just see them. Yeah.

Production designer. Precisely. Yes. That was when I knew this show was legit. You had replicated the floors. We had an amazing production designer on Veepe named Jim Gloucester and he came to spend a lot of time over there in the executive offices building. Yeah.

Um, Eisenhower. So who did you bring with you for today's? I brought my two boys who are now young men and my sister and my mom, and my stepdad. And this is a bigger deal for your family because you actually grew up here. I did. We moved to Washington, D.C. when I was about eight years old.

Yeah. So my mom is out of her mind. Had she ever been here before? Only on a tour. Okay. That's how you figured like, did you take one as a kid? Were you one of those that actually? No, I never took them as a kid. I came here as an adult, you know? Yeah. Um, well, what else should we know? I mean, what was your reaction when you got this? I started crying.

Yeah. Yeah. Good tears or like? No, I was really upset. Of course. That was great tears. Yeah. Happy tears.

Um, and what else are you working on? I loved your people, by the way. Oh, you people. You people. Sorry. Yeah. I have a movie coming out May 26. You hurt my feelings.

I'm sorry. Yeah. Try it, Kristen. I'm sorry. And that's Memorial Day weekend, a film that I made with Nicole Holliff Center. Oh, yeah. Excellent.

Yeah. Well, congratulations. Thank you. We appreciate you taking a few minutes. Thank you. Enjoy today. Okay, I shall.

These are, you know, you've been here before, but this is a big moment. No, this is a big moment. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not taking it for granted. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Arts & Culture, White House, Joe Biden, National Medal of Arts, CBS News, U.S., Entertainment, Celebrities