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*.

## Filmography 
## Awards 
### 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*

## References
## Other websites 
* Debra Messing's official website
* 
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* Newsweek interview  (2005)
* USA Today interview (May 3, 2002)