Debra Messing

**Debra Lynn Messing** (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. She has been nominated eight times for Golden Globe Awards. Her work includes acting as Grace Adler in the NBC  television series _Will & Grace_, and Molly Kagan in the USA television series _The Starter Wife_.

## Early life

Messing was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. She is the daughter of Sandra (née Simons), who has worked as a professional singer, banker, travel agent and real estate agent, and Brian Messing, a sales executive for a costume jewelry packaging manufacturer. The Messing family is Jewish, and descends from Russia and Poland. When Messing was three, she moved with her parents and her older brother, Brett, to East Greenwich, a small town outside Providence, Rhode Island.

During her high school years, Messing acted and sang in a number of high school productions. For example, she was a main character in the musicals _Annie_ and _Fiddler on the Roof_. Messing took lessons in dance, singing, and acting. While her parents encouraged her dream of becoming an actress, they also urged her to finish a liberal arts education before deciding on acting as a career. Following their advice, Messing attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. During her junior year, she studied theater at the well-known London-based British European Studio Group program. This experience made her sure that she wanted to be an actress.

In 1990, Messing graduating from Brandeis University with a bachelor's degree in theater arts She then gained admission to the Graduate Acting Program  at New York University. This was a very hard thing to do, because the program only accepts around fifteen new students every year. She earned a Master's Degree in Fine Arts there after three years.

## Career

In 1993, Messing was praised for her acting in the pre-Broadway workshop production of Tony Kushner's play _Angels in America: Perestroika_. After that, she appeared in several episodes of the television series _NYPD Blue_ during 1994 and 1995.

In 1995, Messing made her film debut in Alfonso Arau's _A Walk in the Clouds_.  She  was playing the unfaithful wife of main character Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves). Fox Network thought she did well, so they made her the co-star of the television sitcom, _Ned and Stacey_. The series lasted for two seasons, from 1995 to 1997. In 1996 and 1997, Messing appeared as Jerry Seinfeld's date in two episodes of the series _Seinfeld_. Messing turned down a starring role in another television sitcom so she could appear in Donald Margulies's two-character play _Collected Stories_. The play opened at the Off-Broadway Manhattan Theater Club. She also co-starred in McHale's Navy in 1997.

In 1998, Messing played a lead role as the bio-anthropologist Sloan Parker on ABC's dramatic science fiction television series _Prey_. During this time, her agent want to her with the script for the first episode of the television show _Will & Grace_. Messing was at first wanted to take some time off, but the script get her interest. She auditioned for the role of Grace Adler. She got the part, beating out Nicollette Sheridan. Sheridan later guest-starred on the show as a romantic rival of Grace's. _Will & Grace_ became a ratings success, and Messing gained fame.

In 2002, Messing was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by _People Magazine_. _TV Guide_ picked her as its "Best Dressed Woman" in 2003. Messing was cast by director Woody Allen in a small role in his 2002 film _Hollywood Ending_. Her film roles since then include a happily married but ill-fated wife in the thriller _The Mothman Prophecies_ (2002) and a supporting role in _Along Came Polly_ (2004). _The Wedding Date_ (2005) was Messing's first leading role in a high-profile film. It received mixed reviews but performed fairly well at the box office. Messing was featured as a judge on the season finale of the second season of Bravo's reality show, _Project Runway_. She also starred in the television mini-series _The Starter Wife_, which was nominated for ten Emmy awards including one for Messing for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.

Messing returned to her role as Molly Kagan in a second season of ten episodes of _The Starter Wife_ in 2008. In February 2009, USA Network announced that _The Starter Wife_ will not be back for another season.

## Personal life

Messing met actor and screenwriter Daniel Zelman, on their first day as graduate students at NYU in 1990. They married on September 3, 2000, and live in New York City. On April 7, 2004, Messing gave birth to a son, Roman Walker Zelman.

## Filmography

|Year||Title||Role||Other notes|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1995|_A Walk in the Clouds_|Betty Sutton|||||
|_Ned & Stacey_|Stacey Colbert|TV Series|||||
|1997|_McHale's Navy_|Lt. Penelope Carpenter|||||
|1998|_Will & Grace_|Grace Adler|TV Series||||
|1999|_Jesus_|Mary Magdalene|TV Movie||||
|2002|_The Mothman Prophecies_|Mary Klein|||||
|_Hollywood Ending_|Lori Fox||||||
|2004|_Along Came Polly_|Lisa Kramer|||||
|_Garfield_|Arlene|Voice only|||||
|2005|_The Wedding Date_|Kat Ellis|||||
|2006|_Open Season_|Park Ranger Beth|Voice only||||
|2007|_Lucky You_|Suzanne Offer|||||
|_The Starter Wife_|Molly Kagan|TV miniseries|||||
|_Purple Violets_|Kate||||||
|2008|_The Women_|Edith Potter|||||
|_The Starter Wife_|Molly Kagan|TV series|||||
|_Nothing Like the Holidays_|Sarah||||||

### Golden Globe Awards

- 2000: nominated - Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2001: nominated - Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2002: nominated - Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2003: nominated - Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2004: nominated - Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2005: nominated - Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2008: nominated - Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film - _The Starter Wife_
- 2009: nominated - Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy - _The Starter Wife_

### Emmy Awards

- 2000: nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2001: nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2002: nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2003: won - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2006: nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2007: nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie - _The Starter Wife_

### Screen Actors Guild Awards

- 2001: nominated - Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2001: won - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2002: nominated - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2003: nominated - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2004: nominated - Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace'
- 2004: nominated - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2005: nominated - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - _Will & Grace_
- 2008: nominated - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries - _The Starter Wife_

### Teen Choice Awards

- 2001: nominated - Choice TV Actress: Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2002: nominated - Choice TV Actress: Comedy - _Will & Grace_
- 2006: nominated - Choice TV Actress: Comedy - _Will & Grace''

## Other websites

- Debra Messing's official website
- Newsweek interview  (2005)
- USA Today interview (May 3, 2002)

## Infobox (person)

- **image**: Debra Messing 2008.jpg
- **caption**: Messing in 2008
- **birth name**: Debra Lynn Messing
- **birth place**: Brooklyn, New York City, United States, U.S.
- **nationality**: United States, American
- **spouse**: Daniel Zelman
(m. 2000-present)
- **children**: Roman Walker Zelman
- **parents**: Brian Messing
Sandra (née Simons)
- **education**: Degree in theater arts
- **alma mater**: Brandeis University
- **occupation**: Actress
- **yearsactive**: 1994 – present
- **awards**: **Emmy Awards**
* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
:2003 _Will & Grace_
**SAG Awards**
*Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Ensemble - Comedy Series
:2001 _Will & Grace_
**Satellite Award for Best Actress - TV Series Musical or Comedy**
:2002 _Will & Grace_
2003 _Will & Grace_