Debra Messing

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Debra Messing

Debra Messing

Photo credit: 
AP

Debra Messing

Birthday: August 15
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York

Debra Messing is an American actress.

After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing received short-lived roles on television series such as 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.

Debra Messing is an American actress.

After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing received short-lived roles on television series such as 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.

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Awards & Nominations

6 Nominations | 1 Emmy
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2007
  • Nominee
  • Debra Messing, as Molly Kagan
  • The Starter Wife
  • USA
  • Hay Pop Pty Limited in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, for NBC Universal Television Studio
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series - 2002
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series - 2001
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series - 2000

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Debra Messing and Chris Hardwick on stage at the 69th Emmy Awards.
Debra Messing and Chris Hardwick present an award at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Debra Messing and Jim Parsons at the 66th Emmys.
Viola Davis (l) and Debra Messing (r) at the 66th Emmys.
Jim Parsons (l) of The Big Bang Theory and Debra Messing present an award at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory and Debra Messing present an award at the 66th Emmys.
Debra Messing arrives at the 66th Emmys.
Debra Messing arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Eric McCormack. James Burrows, Megan Mullalley and Debra Messing
An Evening Honoring James Burrows
Debra Messing, James Burrows and Eric McCormack
Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee onstage during the Smash panel at the 2012 Winter TCA Tour
The actors and creators of Smash onstage at the 2012 Winter TCA Tour
Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee onstage during the Smash panel at the 2012 Winter TCA Tour
Fill 1
Fill 1
Debra Messing and Chris Hardwick on stage at the 69th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Debra Messing and Chris Hardwick on stage at the 69th Emmy Awards.

Richard Harbaugh / Image Group LA
Debra Messing and Chris Hardwick present an award at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.
Camera

Debra Messing and Chris Hardwick present an award at the 2017 Primetime Emmys.

Invision/AP
Debra Messing and Jim Parsons at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Debra Messing and Jim Parsons at the 66th Emmys.

Invision/AP
Viola Davis (l) and Debra Messing (r) at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Viola Davis (l) and Debra Messing (r) at the 66th Emmys.

Invision/AP
Jim Parsons (l) of The Big Bang Theory and Debra Messing present an award at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Jim Parsons (l) of The Big Bang Theory and Debra Messing present an award at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory and Debra Messing present an award at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory and Debra Messing present an award at the 66th Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Debra Messing arrives at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Debra Messing arrives at the 66th Emmys.

Invision/AP
Debra Messing arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Debra Messing arrives at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Camera

Debra Messing

Eric McCormack. James Burrows, Megan Mullalley and Debra Messing
Camera
Invision/AP
An Evening Honoring James Burrows
Camera
Invision/AP
Debra Messing, James Burrows and Eric McCormack
Camera
Invision/AP
Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee onstage during the Smash panel at the 2012 Winter TCA Tour
Camera
PictureGroup
The actors and creators of Smash onstage at the 2012 Winter TCA Tour
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PictureGroup
Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee onstage during the Smash panel at the 2012 Winter TCA Tour
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