LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - Emmy-winning comedic actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus said on Thursday (Sept 28) that she was battling breast cancer and highlighted the case for universal health care.

Louis-Dreyfus, 56, who plays foul-mouthed fictitious US president Selina Meyer on HBO's Veep, said: "1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I'm the one," in a short post on her social media platforms.

"The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let's fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality," the actress wrote.

She did not give any further details of her health status.

Louis-Dreyfus won a record sixth Emmy award for comedy actress for her role as Meyer earlier this month.

She became famous in the early 1990s for her role of Elaine on NBC's Seinfeld, which won her several awards.