Debra Messing
Born: 1968-08-15 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
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). Description above from the Wikipedia article Debra Messing, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
2025
- October 8 as Self
- The Alto Knights as Bobbie Costello
2022
- 13: The Musical as Jessica Goldman
- Bros as Debra Messing
2020
- The Dark Divide as Thea Pyle
- The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU as Self
- Irresistible as Babs Garnett (uncredited)
- Bombshell in Concert with "Smash" Reunion
2019
- Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
- Stucco as Counselor
2018
- Searching as Detective Vick
2017
- Dirty Dancing as Marjorie Houseman
- Will & Grace as Grace Adler
2016
- Match Game as Self - Panelist
- The $100,000 Pyramid as Self
- Albion: The Enchanted Stallion as The Queen
- Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows as Self
2015
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- The Mysteries of Laura as Detective Laura Diamond
- Like Sunday, Like Rain as Barbara
- Trailblazer Honors as Self
2012
- Smash as Julia Houston
2011
- Billy on the Street as Self
- Project Accessory as Self - Guest Judge
2010
- Wright vs. Wrong as Evelyn Wright
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
2008
- The Women as Edie Cohen
- Nothing Like the Holidays as Sarah Rodriguez
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Lucky You as Suzanne Offer
- Purple Violets as Kate Scott
- The Starter Wife as Molly Kagan
2006
- The One Show as Self
- Open Season as Beth (voice)
- The Megan Mullally Show as Self - Guest
2005
- The Reichen Show as Self - Guest
- The Wedding Date as Kat Ellis
2004
- Project Runway as Self - Guest Judge
- Garfield as Arlene (voice)
- Along Came Polly as Lisa Kramer
2003
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
2002
- Hollywood Ending as Lori
- The Mothman Prophecies as Mary Klein
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special as Self
2000
- Jesus as Mary Magdalene
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Alicia Harding
- Jesus as Mary Magdalene
1998
- Will & Grace as Grace Adler
- Celebrity as TV Reporter
- Prey as Dr. Sloan Parker
1997
- King of the Hill as Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)
- The View as Self
- McHale's Navy as Lt. Penelope Carpenter
1995
- A Walk in the Clouds as Betty Sutton
- Ned & Stacey as Stacey Colbert
- Partners
- MADtv as (uncredited)
1994
- Inside the Actors Studio as Self
1993
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
1989
- Seinfeld as Beth Lukner
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
1952
- Today as Self