
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

TV
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alicia Harding
1999

TV
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009

TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014

TV
Seinfeld
Beth Lukner
1989

TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007

TV
The View
Self
1997

TV
Will & Grace
Grace Adler
2017

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
King of the Hill
Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)
1997

TV
The One Show
Self
2006

TV
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993

TV
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992

TV
Project Runway
Self - Guest Judge
2004

TV
Project Runway
Self
2004

TV
Will & Grace
Grace Adler
1998

TV
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest
2019

TV
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003

TV
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self
2015

TV
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014
Filmography
2025FilmThe Alto Knightsas Bobbie Costello2025FilmOctober 8as Self2022FilmBrosas Debra Messing2022Film13: The Musicalas Jessica Goldman2021FilmThe War of the Worlds 20212020FilmIrresistibleas Babs Garnett (uncredited)2020FilmBombshell in Concert2020FilmThe Dark Divideas Thea Pyle2020FilmThe Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVUas Self2019TVTamron Hallas Self - Guest2019FilmStuccoas Counselor2018FilmSearchingas Detective Vick2017TVWill & Graceas Grace Adler2017FilmDirty Dancingas Marjorie Houseman2016TVThe $100,000 Pyramidas Self2016TVMatch Gameas Self - Panelist2016FilmAlbion: The Enchanted Stallionas The Queen2016FilmMust See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrowsas Self2015TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporteras Self2014TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self2014TVThe Mysteries of Lauraas Detective Laura Diamond2014TVTrailblazer Honorsas Self2014FilmLike Sunday, Like Rainas Barbara2014TVLate Night with Seth Meyersas Self2014TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self2012TVSmashas Julia Houston2011TVBilly on the Streetas Self2011TVProject Accessoryas Self - Guest Judge2011FilmSesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures2010FilmWright vs. Wrongas Evelyn Wright2009TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest2008FilmNothing Like the Holidaysas Sarah Rodriguez2008FilmThe Womenas Edie Cohen2007TVThe Starter Wifeas Molly Kagan2007FilmLucky Youas Suzanne Offer2007FilmPurple Violetsas Kate Scott2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self2006FilmOpen Seasonas Beth (voice)2006TVThe Megan Mullally Showas Self - Guest2006TVThe One Showas Self2005TVThe Reichen Showas Self - Guest2005FilmThe Wedding Dateas Kat Ellis2004TVProject Runwayas Self - Guest Judge2004FilmGarfieldas Arlene (voice)2004FilmAlong Came Pollyas Lisa Kramer2003TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self2002FilmNBC 75th Anniversary Specialas Self2002FilmHollywood Endingas Lori2002FilmThe Mothman Propheciesas Mary Klein2000TVJesusas Mary Magdalene1999FilmJesusas Mary Magdalene1999TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Alicia Harding1998TVWill & Graceas Grace Adler1998FilmCelebrityas TV Reporter1998TVPreyas Dr. Sloan Parker1997TVThe Viewas Self1997FilmMcHale's Navyas Lt. Penelope Carpenter1997TVKing of the Hillas Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)1995TVMADtvas (uncredited)1995TVNed & Staceyas Stacey Colbert1995TVPartners1995FilmA Walk in the Cloudsas Betty Sutton1994TVExtraas Self - Guest1994TVInside the Actors Studioas Self1993TVLate Night with Conan O'Brienas Self - Guest1992TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno1989TVSeinfeldas Beth Lukner1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest1981TVEntertainment Tonight1952TVTodayas Self