Started out doing stand-up comedy.

Voted most popular in her high school class.

4 children - Parker Jaren O'Donnell (adopted) born 25 May 1995; Chelsea Belle O'Donnell (adopted) born 20 Sept 1997; Blake Christopher O'Donnell (adopted) born 5 Dec 1999; Vivienne Rose O'Donnell born 29 Nov 2002 to Rosie's partner, Kelli O'Donnell, and weighed 6lbs 6 oz.

Has said that she will never have biological children because of a family history of alcoholism and cancer. She plans to adopt more children, and is also becoming a certified foster parent (as of December 1999).

Rosie's father, Edward, was a spy-camera engineer for a defense corporation.

Has a very big toy collection, especially McDonald's Happy Meal toys.

Fell and broke her right hand. [March 2000]

Auditioned for role of Elaine on "Seinfeld" (1990).

Her role-models are Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler.

She refuses to sign autographs for adults.

Won $20,000 on "Star Search" (1983).

Appeared as a lifeline on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (1999/I), correctly answering the question, and helping the contestant win $32,000. She later invited the contestant onto her show, and gave him a week-long trip to London, England, UK.

Big Savage Garden fan.

She is a big fan of the Harry Potter book series, and even offered to play "Molly Weasley" in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) for free.

Is allergic to cats and horses.

Has a chain of roses tattoo on her ankle.

Is a big New York Jets fan.

Voted high school homecoming queen.

Best friends with Madonna.

Born on the same day as actor Matthew Broderick.

Took the role in Exit to Eden (1994) after learning that Sharon Stone had turned it down.

In 2006, she donated $5,700,000 to Katrina Relief efforts including Renaissance Village (a temporary shelter for Katrina victims), day care centers, a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, and a Habitat for Humanity sub division in Baton Rouge.

Is good friends with Penny Marshall.

Adopted third child, son Blake Christopher (b. November 1999) [5 December 1999]

Big Tom Cruise fan.

Father was born in Belfast, N. Ireland.

Rosie attended Sawmill Junior High School in Commack, New York.

Attended Commack High School South, the same high school as sportscaster Bob Costas.

Is a third cousin to Bridget Moynahan on her father's side, a fact that Rosie O'Donnell did not know until Bridget was a guest on "The View" (1997).

Anjelica Huston wanted her to play the lead in the film Agnes Browne (1999) but she turned it down because the offer came shortly after the shootings at Columbine High-School and O'Donnell felt that she was too emotional to do a film at that time.

Used to work in the catalog department at Sears. Her job was to attach the orders to the catalogs, dump the catalogs in the correct bins, and then fetch the orders for the customers.

Was a VH-1 VeeJay.

Dropped out of Boston University after 1 year. Dropped out of Dickinson College, Carlisle,PA.

Once owned and lived in the late Helen Hayes's former home in Nyack, New York.

TV special she co-hosted on Nickelodeon - "Nick News Special Edition: My Family is Different" -logged some 100,000 e-mails and calls in protest about its gay-parenting content, before the show even aired 18 June 2002. The campaign was reportedly organized by the Traditional Values Coalition. Linda Ellerbee produced and also hosted.