
Debra Messing
Biography
Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing starred in the shortlived 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), and 13: The Musical (2022). She has also lent her voice to animated films such as Garfield (2004) and Open Season (2006).
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Known For
Acting History
2025
The Alto Knights as Bobbie Costello
2025October 8 as Self
2022Bros as Debra Messing
202213: The Musical as Jessica Goldman
2021The War of the Worlds 2021
2020The 52nd Annual Emmy Awards as Self - Nominee & Presenter
2020Irresistible as Babs Garnett (uncredited)
2020Bombshell in Concert with "Smash" Reunion
2020The Dark Divide as Thea Pyle
2020The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU as Self
2019Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
2019Stucco as Counselor
2018Searching as Detective Vick
2017Will & Grace as Grace Adler
2017Dirty Dancing as Marjorie Houseman
2016The $100,000 Pyramid as Self
2016Match Game as Self - Panelist
2016Albion: The Enchanted Stallion as The Queen
2016Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows as Self
2015Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
2014Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
2014The Mysteries of Laura as Detective Laura Diamond
2014Trailblazer Honors as Self
2014Like Sunday, Like Rain as Barbara
2014Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
2012Smash as Julia Houston
2011Billy on the Street as Self
2011Project Accessory as Self - Guest Judge
2011Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
2010Wright vs. Wrong as Evelyn Wright
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
2008Nothing Like the Holidays as Sarah Rodriguez
2008The Women as Edie Cohen
2007The Starter Wife as Molly Kagan
2007Lucky You as Suzanne Offer
2007Purple Violets as Kate Scott
2007The Graham Norton Show as Self
2006Open Season as Beth (voice)
2006The Megan Mullally Show as Self - Guest
2006The One Show as Self
2005The Reichen Show as Self - Guest
2005The Wedding Date as Kat Ellis
2004Project Runway as Self - Guest Judge
2004Project Runway as Self
2004Garfield as Arlene (voice)
2004Along Came Polly as Lisa Kramer
2003The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
2002NBC 75th Anniversary Special as Self
2002Hollywood Ending as Lori
2002The Mothman Prophecies as Mary Klein
2000Jesus as Mary Magdalene
1999Jesus as Mary Magdalene
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Alicia Harding
1998Will & Grace as Grace Adler
1998Celebrity as TV Reporter
1998Prey as Dr. Sloan Parker
1997The View as Self
1997McHale's Navy as Lt. Penelope Carpenter
1997King of the Hill as Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)
1995MADtv as (uncredited)
1995Ned & Stacey as Stacey Colbert
1995Partners
1995A Walk in the Clouds as Betty Sutton
1994Inside the Actors Studio as Self
1993Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
1992The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1989Seinfeld as Beth Lukner
1988LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
1981Entertainment Tonight
1952Today as Self








