
Debra Messing
Acting
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.
TV Shows(38)

Tamron Hall
Self - Guest
2019

Will & Grace
Grace Adler
2017

The $100,000 Pyramid
Self
2016

Match Game
Self - Panelist
2016

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self
2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014

The Mysteries of Laura
Detective Laura Diamond
2014

Trailblazer Honors
Self
2014

Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014

Smash
Julia Houston
2012

Billy on the Street
Self
2011

Project Accessory
Self - Guest Judge
2011

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009

The Starter Wife
Molly Kagan
2007

The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007

The Megan Mullally Show
Self - Guest
2006

The One Show
Self
2006

The Reichen Show
Self - Guest
2005

Project Runway
Self - Guest Judge
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003

Jesus
Mary Magdalene
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alicia Harding
1999

Will & Grace
Grace Adler
1998

Prey
Dr. Sloan Parker
1998

The View
Self
1997

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

MADtv
(uncredited)
1995

Ned & Stacey
Stacey Colbert
1995

Partners
1995

Extra
Self - Guest
1994

Inside the Actors Studio
Self
1994

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992

Seinfeld
Beth Lukner
1989

LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

Entertainment Tonight
1981

Today
Self
1952
Movies(32)

The Alto Knights
Bobbie Costello
2025

October 8
Self
2025

Bros
Debra Messing
2022

13: The Musical
Jessica Goldman
2022

The War of the Worlds 2021
2021

Irresistible
Babs Garnett (uncredited)
2020

Bombshell in Concert
2020

The Dark Divide
Thea Pyle
2020

The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
Self
2020

Stucco
Counselor
2019

Searching
Detective Vick
2018

Dirty Dancing
Marjorie Houseman
2017

Albion: The Enchanted Stallion
The Queen
2016

Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
Self
2016

Like Sunday, Like Rain
Barbara
2014

Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
2011

Wright vs. Wrong
Evelyn Wright
2010

Nothing Like the Holidays
Sarah Rodriguez
2008

The Women
Edie Cohen
2008

Lucky You
Suzanne Offer
2007

Purple Violets
Kate Scott
2007

Open Season
Beth (voice)
2006

The Wedding Date
Kat Ellis
2005

Garfield
Arlene (voice)
2004

Along Came Polly
Lisa Kramer
2004

NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Self
2002

Hollywood Ending
Lori
2002

The Mothman Prophecies
Mary Klein
2002

Jesus
Mary Magdalene
1999

Celebrity
TV Reporter
1998

McHale's Navy
Lt. Penelope Carpenter
1997

A Walk in the Clouds
Betty Sutton
1995