Broadway and television star Kristin Chenoweth received her best birthday present yet when she unveiled her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The actress, who is best known for her roles in The West Wing, Pushing Daisies and Glee, as well as her performance as Glinda in the original Broadway production of musical Wicked, celebrated her 47th birthday by revealing her new star in front of the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

Kristin Chenoweth
(Richard Shotwell/Invision/PA)

She was accompanied by veteran American actress Carol Burnett and director Kenny Ortega, as well as her co-star in her new movie Descendants, Dove Cameron.

Speaking after the ceremony, she said: “I don’t think I’ve ever had a better gift, I never thought I would have a star on the Walk of Fame so for it to happen on my birthday is very special.

“I thought of all the people before me and the times I’ve seen them, I remember watching Jennifer Lopez’s and older ones like when Joanne Woodward got it, and Carol Burnett. I just can’t quite wrap my head round it.”

Kristin Chenoweth
(Richard Shotwell/Invision/PA)

During her speech to the assembled crowd, Kristin said: “This is a memory I will have for as long as I remain on this earth.”

The actress, who is 4ft 11in tall, joked about her own theory as to why she was given the honour.

“I just looked online and the largest group of individuals represented by a single star is the 122 adults and 12 children collectively known as The Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz and I thought maybe that is why I got it, since I am about their height.

Kristin Chenoweth
(Richard Shotwell/Invision/PA)

“But I will take it, live theatre and performance is my deal. I love film and television and I love to sing and dance and I get to do it all in this beautiful world.”

Kristin continued her birthday celebrations at the premiere of the movie Descendants at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

Kristin Chenoweth will star in Descendants
(Chris Pizzello/Invision/PA)

The actress stars as Maleficent in the film, which focuses on the children of the villains from the classic Disney stories, including the offspring of Aladdin’s evil nemesis Jafar, 101 Dalmations’ Cruella de Vil, and Snow White’s Evil Queen.

Dove plays Maleficent’s daughter Mal, but said she believed her on-screen mother is the most misunderstood Disney villain.

Kristin Chenoweth and Dove Cameron
(Chris Pizzello/Invision/PA)

“I don’t think Maleficent is inherently bad, the one who is the most evil is the one who has been the most wronged,” she said.

Dove added: “I keep equating Mal to a street dog. They are not bad dogs but they have been mistreated their whole lives. She’s got some of that negative run-off on her in the beginning just because she doesn’t know anything else.”

Descendants will premiere in the UK on the Disney Channel in September.