Acting · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA · Born August 15, 1968
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.
MovieThe Alto Knights
2025
as Bobbie Costello
MovieOctober 8
2025
as Self
MovieBros
2022
as Debra Messing
Movie13: The Musical
2022
as Jessica Goldman
MovieThe War of the Worlds 2021
2021
MovieIrresistible
2020
as Babs Garnett (uncredited)
MovieBombshell in Concert
2020
MovieThe Dark Divide
2020
as Thea Pyle
MovieThe Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
2020
as Self
TVTamron Hall
2019
as Self - Guest
MovieStucco
2019
as Counselor
MovieSearching
2018
as Detective Vick
TVWill & Grace
2017
as Grace Adler
MovieDirty Dancing
2017
as Marjorie Houseman
TVThe $100,000 Pyramid
2016
as Self
TVMatch Game
2016
as Self - Panelist
MovieAlbion: The Enchanted Stallion
2016
as The Queen
MovieMust See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
2016
as Self
TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015
as Self
TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014
as Self
TVThe Mysteries of Laura
2014
as Detective Laura Diamond
TVTrailblazer Honors
2014
as Self
MovieLike Sunday, Like Rain
2014
as Barbara
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self - Guest
TVSmash
2012
as Julia Houston
TVBilly on the Street
2011
as Self
TVProject Accessory
2011
as Self - Guest Judge
MovieSesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
2011
MovieWright vs. Wrong
2010
as Evelyn Wright
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
MovieNothing Like the Holidays
2008
as Sarah Rodriguez
TVThe Starter Wife
2008
as Molly Kagan
MovieThe Women
2008
as Edie Cohen
TVThe Starter Wife
2007
as Molly Kagan
MovieLucky You
2007
as Suzanne Offer
MoviePurple Violets
2007
as Kate Scott
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
MovieOpen Season
2006
as Beth (voice)
TVThe Megan Mullally Show
2006
as Self - Guest
TVThe One Show
2006
as Self
The Reichen Show
2005
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Wedding Date
2005
as Kat Ellis
TVProject Runway
2004
as Self - Guest Judge
MovieGarfield
2004
as Arlene (voice)
MovieAlong Came Polly
2004
as Lisa Kramer
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
MovieNBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002
as Self
MovieHollywood Ending
2002
as Lori
MovieThe Mothman Prophecies
2002
as Mary Klein
MovieJesus
1999
as Mary Magdalene
TVJesus
1999
as Mary Magdalene
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Alicia Harding
MovieCelebrity
1998
as TV Reporter
TVWill & Grace
1998
as Grace Adler
TVPrey
1998
as Dr. Sloan Parker
TVThe View
1997
as Self
MovieMcHale's Navy
1997
as Lt. Penelope Carpenter
TVKing of the Hill
1997
as Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)
TVMADtv
1995
as (uncredited)
TVNed & Stacey
1995
as Stacey Colbert
TVPartners
1995
MovieA Walk in the Clouds
1995
as Betty Sutton
TVExtra
1994
as Self - Guest
TVInside the Actors Studio
1994
as Self
TVLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
as Self - Guest
TVSeinfeld
1989
as Beth Lukner
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self - Guest
TVEntertainment Tonight
1981
TVToday
1952
as Self
