Debra Messing

Debra Messing, born Debra Lynn Messing on August 15, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York, embarked on her acting career after completing her education. Encouraged by her parents to pursue a liberal arts degree, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts “summa cum laude” from Brandeis University. Following this, she was accepted into the prestigious Grad Acting Program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she obtained her Master of Fine Arts after three years. Her professional journey began in 1993, gaining recognition for her role as Harper in the pre-Broadway workshop production of Tony Kushner’s play “Angels in America: Perestroika.” She then transitioned to television, with appearances in “NYPD Blue” (1994–1995) and her film debut in “A Walk in the Clouds” (1995). These early roles established her presence in the entertainment industry.

Messing rose to prominence with her co-starring role in the Fox sitcom “Ned & Stacey” (1995–1997) and guest appearances on “Seinfeld” (1996, 1997). A significant turning point came in 1998 when she landed her breakthrough role as Grace Adler, an interior designer, in the NBC sitcom “Will & Grace.” This role garnered her critical acclaim, including seven Golden Globe Award nominations and five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, which she won in 2003. Her film career also expanded during this period, with roles in “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002), “Hollywood Ending” (2002), and her first leading film role in “The Wedding Date” (2005). She also lent her voice to animated features such as “Garfield” (2004) and “Open Season” (2006).

Beyond “Will & Grace,” Messing continued to take on diverse roles, starring as Molly Kagan in the television miniseries “The Starter Wife” (2007–2008), which earned her additional Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. She went on to portray Broadway playwright Julia Houston in the NBC musical drama “Smash” (2012–2013) and homicide detective Laura Diamond in the NBC police-procedural comedy “The Mysteries of Laura” (2014–2016). Messing reprised her iconic role as Grace Adler for the “Will & Grace” revival on NBC from 2017 to 2020, receiving a ninth Golden Globe nomination. Her recent and upcoming projects include films like “Searching” (2018), “13: The Musical” (2022), and “The Alto Knights” (2025), along with executive producing the documentary “October 8” (2025). Messing was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.