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). Description above from the Wikipedia article Debra Messing, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Seinfeld

The Graham Norton Show

King of the Hill

The View

All Movies (32)

• The Alto Knights2025 · as Bobbie Costello
• October 82025 · as Self
• Bros2022 · as Debra Messing
• 13: The Musical2022 · as Jessica Goldman
• The War of the Worlds 20212021
• Irresistible2020 · as Babs Garnett (uncredited)
• Bombshell in Concert2020
• The Dark Divide2020 · as Thea Pyle
• The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU2020 · as Self
• Stucco2019 · as Counselor
• Searching2018 · as Detective Vick
• Dirty Dancing2017 · as Marjorie Houseman
• Albion: The Enchanted Stallion2016 · as The Queen
• Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows2016 · as Self
• Like Sunday, Like Rain2014 · as Barbara
• Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures2011
• Wright vs. Wrong2010 · as Evelyn Wright
• Nothing Like the Holidays2008 · as Sarah Rodriguez
• The Women2008 · as Edie Cohen
• Lucky You2007 · as Suzanne Offer
• Purple Violets2007 · as Kate Scott
• Open Season2006 · as Beth (voice)
• The Wedding Date2005 · as Kat Ellis
• Garfield2004 · as Arlene (voice)
• Along Came Polly2004 · as Lisa Kramer
• NBC 75th Anniversary Special2002 · as Self
• Hollywood Ending2002 · as Lori
• The Mothman Prophecies2002 · as Mary Klein
• Jesus1999 · as Mary Magdalene
• Celebrity1998 · as TV Reporter
• McHale's Navy1997 · as Lt. Penelope Carpenter
• A Walk in the Clouds1995 · as Betty Sutton

All TV Shows (40)

• Tamron Hall2019 · as Self - Guest
• Will & Grace2017 · as Grace Adler
• The $100,000 Pyramid2016 · as Self
• Match Game2016 · as Self - Panelist
• Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter2015 · as Self
• Variety Studio: Actors on Actors2014 · as Self
• The Mysteries of Laura2014 · as Detective Laura Diamond
• Trailblazer Honors2014 · as Self
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self - Guest
• Smash2012 · as Julia Houston
• Billy on the Street2011 · as Self
• Project Accessory2011 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• The Starter Wife2008 · as Molly Kagan
• The Starter Wife2007 · as Molly Kagan
• The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
• The Megan Mullally Show2006 · as Self - Guest
• The One Show2006 · as Self
• The Reichen Show2005 · as Self - Guest
• Project Runway2004 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Project Runway2004 · as Self
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• Jesus1999 · as Mary Magdalene
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Alicia Harding
• Will & Grace1998 · as Grace Adler
• Prey1998 · as Dr. Sloan Parker
• The View1997 · as Self
• King of the Hill1997 · as Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)
• MADtv1995 · as (uncredited)
• Ned & Stacey1995 · as Stacey Colbert
• Partners1995
• Extra1994 · as Self - Guest
• Inside the Actors Studio1994 · as Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992 · as Self - Guest
• Seinfeld1989 · as Beth Lukner
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
• Entertainment Tonight1981
• Today1952 · as Self