Not only is Ellen an actress but she is a member of Mensa, a student at the Lee Strasberg School, drives and races a six speed SS, and collects Burmese cats. Her awards include Best Actress at the AFI for The Young Girl and the Monsoon (1999) and best supporting actress at the Japanese Film Festival for Dolores Claiborne (1995). Her father, Dr. Erich Muth, was national optician of the year, has an entire museum named after him, has written numerous optical books which he donates the profits to The Erich Muth Scholarship, and there is a section in the Smithsonian Museum donated by him. Her mother, Rachel Muth, helped make it possible for Ellen to be an actress, by taking her to all her auditions until she was 18.