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
The Alto Knights
Bobbie Costello
2025
October 8
Self
2024
Bros
Debra Messing
2022
13: The Musical
Jessica Goldman
2022
Irresistible
Babs Garnett (uncredited)
2020
Bombshell in Concert
2020
The Dark Divide
Thea Pyle
2020
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
Self
2020
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2019
Stucco
Counselor
2019
Searching
Detective Vick
2018
Will & Grace
Grace Adler · (52 episodes)
2017
Dirty Dancing
Marjorie Houseman
2017
The $100,000 Pyramid
Self · (1 episode)
2016
Match Game
Self - Panelist · (1 episode)
2016
Albion: The Enchanted Stallion
The Queen
2016
Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
Self
2016
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Mysteries of Laura
Detective Laura Diamond · (38 episodes)
2014
Trailblazer Honors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Like Sunday, Like Rain
Barbara
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
(1 episode)
2014
Smash
Julia Houston · (32 episodes)
2012
Billy on the Street
Self · (1 episode)
2011
Project Accessory
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2011
Wright vs. Wrong
Evelyn Wright
2010
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (5 episodes)
2009
Nothing Like the Holidays
Sarah Rodriguez
2008
The Women
Edie Cohen
2008
The Starter Wife
Molly Kagan · (16 episodes)
2007
Lucky You
Suzanne Offer
2007
Purple Violets
Kate Scott
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Open Season
Beth (voice)
2006
The Megan Mullally Show
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2006
The One Show
Self · (1 episode)
2006
The Reichen Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2005
The Wedding Date
Kat Ellis
2005
Project Runway
Self - Guest Judge · (2 episodes)
2004
Project Runway
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Garfield
Arlene (voice)
2004
Along Came Polly
Lisa Kramer
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (4 episodes)
2003
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Self
2002
Hollywood Ending
Lori
2002
The Mothman Prophecies
Mary Klein
2002
Jesus
Mary Magdalene · (2 episodes)
2000
Jesus
Mary Magdalene
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Alicia Harding · (1 episode)
1999
Will & Grace
Grace Adler · (194 episodes)
1998
Celebrity
TV Reporter
1998
Prey
Dr. Sloan Parker · (13 episodes)
1998
The View
Self · (3 episodes)
1997
The View
(1 episode)
1997
McHale's Navy
Lt. Penelope Carpenter
1997
King of the Hill
Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice) · (1 episode)
1997
MADtv
(uncredited) · (1 episode)
1995
Ned and Stacey
Stacey Colbert · (46 episodes)
1995
Partners
(1 episode)
1995
A Walk in the Clouds
Betty Sutton
1995
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(3 episodes)
1992
Seinfeld
Beth Lukner · (2 episodes)
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988
Today
Self · (1 episode)
1952