Debra Messing
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Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing starred in the television series Ned and Stacey on Fox (1995–1997) and Prey on ABC (1998). She achieved her breakthrough role as Grace Adler, an interior designer, on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–2020), for which she received seven Golden Globe Award nominations and five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, winning once, in 2003.
From 2007 to 2008, Messing starred as Molly Kagan, the ex-wife of a Hollywood film mogul, on the television miniseries The Starter Wife, for which she received two Golden Globe nominations, a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Thereafter, she appeared as Broadway playwright Julia Houston on the NBC musical drama Smash (2012–2013) and as homicide detective Laura Diamond on the NBC police-procedural comedy The Mysteries of Laura (2014–2016). From 2017 to 2020, Messing reprised her role as Grace Adler on NBC's three season revival of Will & Grace, garnering a ninth Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
Messing's film work includes A Walk in the Clouds (1995), Jesus (1999), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), Hollywood Ending (2002), Along Came Polly (2004), The Wedding Date (2005), Lucky You (2007), The Women (2008), Nothing Like the Holidays (2008), Searching (2018), 13: The Musical (2022), and The Alto Knights (2025). She has also lent her voice to animated films such as Garfield (2004) and Open Season (2006).
Early life and education
Messing was born in Brooklyn, New York,<ref name="Inside the Actors Studio">Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio</ref><ref name="Ouzounian-2012">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Finding Your Roots">Stated on Finding Your Roots, February 25, 2025</ref> the daughter of Sandra Ellen (Template:Née), who worked as a professional singer, banker, and travel and real estate agent, and Brian Messing, a sales executive for a costume jewelry packaging manufacturer. Her family is Jewish, and emigrated to the U.S. from Russia; Przecław, Poland; and London, England.<ref name="Finding Your Roots"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Messing had a Bat Mitzvah ceremony.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When Messing was three, she moved with her parents and her older brother, Brett, to East Greenwich, Rhode Island.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
While Messing's parents encouraged her dream of becoming an actress, they also urged her to complete a liberal arts education before deciding on acting as a career. Following their advice, she attended Brandeis University, where, at her parents' request, three-quarters of her courses were not theater-related.<ref name="Ouzounian-2012"/>
In 1990, after graduating summa cum laude from Brandeis with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, Messing gained admission to the elite Grad Acting Program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, which accepts 16 new students annually. She earned a Master of Fine Arts after three years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
In 1993, Messing won acclaim for her performance as Harper in the pre-Broadway workshop production of Tony Kushner's play Angels in America: Perestroika.<ref name="Inside the Actors Studio"/> Subsequently, she appeared in several episodes of the television series NYPD Blue during 1994 and 1995.
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In 1995, Messing made her film debut in Alfonso Arau's A Walk in the Clouds playing the unfaithful wife of main character Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves). This exposure led Fox to make her the co-star of the television sitcom Ned & Stacey. The series lasted for two seasons, from 1995 to 1997. Messing appeared as Jerry Seinfeld's romantic interest in two episodes of the series Seinfeld: "The Wait Out" in 1996 and "The Yada Yada" in 1997. Messing turned down a starring role in another television sitcom to appear in Donald Margulies's two-character play Collected Stories, which opened at the off-Broadway Manhattan Theatre Club. She also co-starred in the Tom Arnold vehicle McHale's Navy in 1997.
In 1998, Messing played a lead role as the bioanthropologist Sloan Parker on ABC's dramatic science-fiction television series Prey. During this time, her agent approached her with the pilot script for the television show Will & Grace. Messing was inclined to take some time off, but the script intrigued her, and she auditioned for the role of Grace Adler, beating Nicollette Sheridan, who later guest-starred on the show as Grace's romantic rival. Will & Grace became a ratings success, and Messing received critical acclaim for her performance.<ref name="Inside the Actors Studio"/>
Director Woody Allen cast Messing in a supporting role in his film Hollywood Ending (2002). Her film roles since include Richard Gere's ill-fated wife in the supernatural thriller The Mothman Prophecies (2002) and a supporting role as an unfaithful bride in Along Came Polly (2004). The Wedding Date (2005) was Messing's first leading role in a high-profile film. It received mixed reviews but performed fairly well at the box office.
Messing was featured as a judge on the season finale of the second season of Bravo's reality show Project Runway. Also in 2005, along with Megan Mullally, she was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
She also starred in the television miniseries The Starter Wife (2007), which was nominated for ten Emmy Awards, including one for Messing for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. In 2008, Messing reprised her role as Molly Kagan in the television series The Starter Wife, consisting of 10 episodes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In early 2010, Messing starred in the ABC comedy pilot Wright vs. Wrong for the 2010–2011 primetime season, but ABC did not pick-up the pilot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2011, Messing was ranked no. 22 on the TV Guide Network special, Funniest Women on TV. In February 2011, producers announced that Messing would star in a new NBC musical pilot called Smash for the 2011–2012 primetime season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2011, it was reported that NBC picked up the show as a series for the 2011–2012 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The show premiered on February 6, 2012. The show was later renewed for a second season after which it was cancelled.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Messing appeared with Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong and Leighton Meester in Frank Whaley's drama film Like Sunday, Like Rain in 2014. For her performance, Messing won the 2014 Best Actress Award at The Williamsburg Independent Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
She made her Broadway debut in John Patrick Shanley's play Outside Mullingar alongside Tony Award winner Brían F. O'Byrne, which began previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on January 3, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Outside Mullingar was nominated for Best Play for the 2014 (68th Annual) Tony Awards.
Messing starred in The Mysteries of Laura, a police procedural television show that premiered in September 2014. The series lasted for two seasons and ended in 2016. Messing portrayed Marjorie Houseman in the television remake of the film Dirty Dancing (1987). It aired on ABC in May 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She starred again as Grace Adler in the revival of Will & Grace on NBC. The revival aired for three seasons, from September 2017 to April 2020.
Activism
In 2004, Messing started working on political campaigns by knocking on doors and making phone calls.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has frequently criticized Donald Trump since his presidential run in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, Messing and Mandana Dayani founded a nonpartisan organization called "I am a voter" to educate and mobilize voters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Asof, Messing supported the Democratic Party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gaza war
Messing has been a vocal supporter of Israel since the October 7 attacks.<ref name="Blair-2024">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Lennard-2024">Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2023, she gave a speech at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Blair-2024" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On a December 2023 trip to Israel organized by the Creative Community for Peace, Messing met with members of the Israeli military and families of the hostages.<ref name="Blair-2024" /><ref name="Wagmeister-2025">Template:Cite web</ref>
Some social media users have expressed gratitude to Messing for sharing stories about the hostages and their families, while others have criticized her posts about the Gaza war as disregarding the Gaza humanitarian crisis and the Palestinian death toll.<ref name="Blair-2024" /> In January 2024, Messing was criticized for mocking Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza over his decision to leave the Gaza Strip amid Israel's killing of journalists.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Messing has also signed open letters related to the Gaza war, including letters criticizing Jonathan Glazer's Oscars acceptance speech for The Zone of Interest,<ref name="Lennard-2024" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bisan Owda's Emmy nomination,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Film Workers for Palestine boycott of Israeli film institutions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Messing appeared in and served as executive producer for October 8, a 2025 documentary about antisemitism during the Gaza war.<ref name="Wagmeister-2025" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Messing met Daniel Zelman, an actor and screenwriter, on their first day as graduate students at New York University in 1990. They were married on September 3, 2000, and lived in Manhattan. They have a son.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011, she and Zelman separated,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and were officially divorced in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Messing dated her Smash co-star Will Chase from the end of 2011 to October 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2012, she posed discretely nude for the May issue of Allure magazine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Template:Sortname | Betty Sutton | |
| 1997 | McHale's Navy | Lt. Penelope Carpenter | |
| 1998 | Celebrity | TV reporter | |
| 2002 | Template:Sortname | Mary Klein | |
| Hollywood Ending | Lori | ||
| 2003 | Marion's Triumph | Narrator | |
| 2004 | Along Came Polly | Lisa Kramer | |
| Garfield | Arlene (voice) | ||
| 2005 | Template:Sortname | Kat Ellis | |
| 2006 | Open Season | Beth (voice) | |
| 2007 | Purple Violets | Kate Scott | |
| Lucky You | Suzanne Offer | ||
| 2008 | Template:Sortname | Edie Cohen | |
| Nothing like the Holidays | Sarah Rodriguez | ||
| 2014 | Like Sunday, Like Rain | Barbara | |
| 2016 | Albion: The Enchanted Stallion | The Queen | |
| 2018 | Searching | Detective Sergeant Rosemary Vick | |
| 2020 | Irresistible | Babs Garnett | |
| The Dark Divide | Thea Linnea Pyle | ||
| 2022 | 13: The Musical | Jessica Goldman | |
| Bros | Herself<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| 2025 | October 8 | Herself<ref name=":0" /> | Documentary;
Executive producer |
| The Alto Knights | Bobbie Costello |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | NYPD Blue | Dana Abandando | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Partners | Stacey | Episode: "City Hall" |
| 1995–97 | Ned and Stacey | Stacey Colbert | Main role |
| 1996, 1997 | Seinfeld | Beth Lookner | Episodes: "The Wait Out" & "The Yada Yada" |
| 1998 | Prey | Dr. Sloan Parker | Main role |
| 1998–2006, 2017–20 |
Will & Grace | Grace Adler | |
| 1999 | Jesus | Mary Magdalene | Television film |
| 2002 | King of the Hill | Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice) | Episode: "Get Your Freak Off" |
| 2006, 2012 | Project Runway | Herself / Guest judge | Season 2, Episode: "Finale – Part 2" Season 10, Episode: "I Get a Kick Out of Fashion" |
| 2007 | The Starter Wife | Molly Kagan | Miniseries (6 episodes) |
| 2008 | The Starter Wife | Main role | |
| 2009 | Sesame Street | Herself | Episode: "4190" |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Alicia Harding | Episode: "Pursuit" |
| 2012–13 | Smash | Julia Houston | Main role |
| 2014–19 | Project Runway All Stars | Herself / Guest judge | 3 episodes |
| 2014–16 | The Mysteries of Laura | Detective Laura Diamond | Lead role |
| 2015 | Jeopardy! | Herself | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Match Game | Episode #1.1 | |
| 2016–17 | Nightcap | 2 episodes | |
| 2017 | Dirty Dancing | Marjorie Houseman | Television film |
Awards and nominations
Messing's most honored role is as Grace Adler on Will & Grace, which earned her seven Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical; five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, one of which she won in 2003; and seven Screen Actors Guild Award nominations: two for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series and five for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – winning one in 2001.
Honors
- 2005: Nominated for Favorite Funny Female Star by the People's Choice Awards.
- 2005: Honored with the Lucy Award, by the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards – to recognize women and men and their creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.
- 2017: Honored with the Excellence in Media Award by the GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) – to individuals in the media and entertainment industries who through their work have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.
- 2017: Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame and received a star for her contribution to Television – located at 6201 Hollywood Blvd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Accolades
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- 1968 births
- 20th-century American actresses
- 20th-century American Jews
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century American Jews
- Activists against antisemitism
- Actresses from Rhode Island
- American film actresses
- American people of English-Jewish descent
- American people of Polish-Jewish descent
- American people of Russian-Jewish descent
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- American Zionists
- Brandeis University alumni
- Jewish American actresses
- Living people
- New York (state) Democrats
- Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- People from East Greenwich, Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Democrats
- Tisch School of the Arts alumni
- Zionist activists