Debra Messing

Debra Messing

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.

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Known For

Filmography

2025

The Alto Knights
The Alto Knights
as Bobbie Costello
Movie - Released: 3/14/2025

2024

October 8
October 8
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/1/2024

2022

13: The Musical
13: The Musical
as Jessica Goldman
Movie - Released: 8/12/2022
Bros
Bros
as Debra Messing
Movie - Released: 9/30/2022

2020

The Dark Divide
The Dark Divide
as Thea Pyle
Movie - Released: 3/28/2020
Bombshell in Concert
Bombshell in Concert
Movie - Released: 5/20/2020
Irresistible
Irresistible
as Babs Garnett (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 7/1/2020
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/2/2020

2019

Stucco
Stucco
as Counselor
Movie - Released: 8/8/2019
Tamron Hall
Tamron Hall
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 9/9/2019

2018

Searching
Searching
as Detective Vick
Movie - Released: 8/24/2018

2017

Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
as Marjorie Houseman
Movie - Released: 5/24/2017
Will & Grace
Will & Grace
as Grace Adler
TV - Released: 9/28/2017

2016

Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/21/2016
Albion: The Enchanted Stallion
Albion: The Enchanted Stallion
as The Queen
Movie - Released: 5/1/2016
The $100,000 Pyramid
The $100,000 Pyramid
as Self
TV - Released: 6/27/2016
Match Game
Match Game
as Self - Panelist
TV - Released: 6/26/2016

2015

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
as Self
TV - Released: 8/2/2015

2014

Like Sunday, Like Rain
Like Sunday, Like Rain
as Barbara
Movie - Released: 3/1/2014
The Mysteries of Laura
The Mysteries of Laura
as Detective Laura Diamond
TV - Released: 9/17/2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Self
TV - Released: 2/25/2014
Trailblazer Honors
Trailblazer Honors
as Self
TV - Released: 6/27/2014
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
as Self
TV - Released: 12/21/2014

2012

Smash
Smash
as Julia Houston
TV - Released: 2/6/2012

2011

Billy on the Street
Billy on the Street
as Self
TV - Released: 12/18/2011
Project Accessory
Project Accessory
as Self - Guest Judge
TV - Released: 10/27/2011

2010

Wright vs. Wrong
Wright vs. Wrong
as Evelyn Wright
Movie - Released: 1/1/2010

2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 7/16/2009

2008

Nothing Like the Holidays
Nothing Like the Holidays
as Sarah Rodriguez
Movie - Released: 12/12/2008
The Women
The Women
as Edie Cohen
Movie - Released: 9/12/2008

2007

Lucky You
Lucky You
as Suzanne Offer
Movie - Released: 5/1/2007
Purple Violets
Purple Violets
as Kate Scott
Movie - Released: 4/30/2007
The Starter Wife
The Starter Wife
as Molly Kagan
TV - Released: 5/31/2007
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
as Self
TV - Released: 2/22/2007

2006

Open Season
Open Season
as Beth (voice)
Movie - Released: 9/27/2006
The Megan Mullally Show
The Megan Mullally Show
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 9/18/2006
The One Show
The One Show
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 8/14/2006
The One Show
The One Show
as Self
TV - Released: 8/14/2006

2005

The Wedding Date
The Wedding Date
as Kat Ellis
Movie - Released: 2/4/2005
The Reichen Show
The Reichen Show
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 11/11/2005

2004

Along Came Polly
Along Came Polly
as Lisa Kramer
Movie - Released: 1/16/2004
Garfield
Garfield
as Arlene (voice)
Movie - Released: 6/10/2004
Project Runway
Project Runway
as Self - Guest Judge
TV - Released: 12/1/2004
Project Runway
Project Runway
as Self
TV - Released: 12/1/2004

2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self
TV - Released: 9/8/2003

2002

The Mothman Prophecies
The Mothman Prophecies
as Mary Klein
Movie - Released: 1/25/2002
Hollywood Ending
Hollywood Ending
as Lori
Movie - Released: 5/3/2002
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/5/2002

2000

Jesus
Jesus
as Mary Magdalene
TV - Released: 5/14/2000

1999

Jesus
Jesus
as Mary Magdalene
Movie - Released: 12/5/1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Alicia Harding
TV - Released: 9/20/1999

1998

Celebrity
Celebrity
as TV Reporter
Movie - Released: 9/7/1998
Prey
Prey
as Dr. Sloan Parker
TV - Released: 1/15/1998
Will & Grace
Will & Grace
as Grace Adler
TV - Released: 9/21/1998

1997

McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy
as Lt. Penelope Carpenter
Movie - Released: 4/18/1997
King of the Hill
King of the Hill
as Mrs. Hilgren-Bronson (voice)
TV - Released: 1/12/1997
The View
The View
as Self
TV - Released: 8/11/1997
The View
The View
TV - Released: 8/11/1997

1995

A Walk in the Clouds
A Walk in the Clouds
as Betty Sutton
Movie - Released: 5/27/1995
Ned and Stacey
Ned and Stacey
as Stacey Colbert
TV - Released: 9/11/1995
Partners
Partners
TV - Released: 9/11/1995
MADtv
MADtv
as (uncredited)
TV - Released: 10/14/1995

1994

Inside the Actors Studio
Inside the Actors Studio
as Self
TV - Released: 8/14/1994

1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 9/13/1993

1992

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV - Released: 5/25/1992

1989

Seinfeld
Seinfeld
as Beth Lukner
TV - Released: 7/5/1989

1988

LIVE with Kelly and Mark
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
as Self - Guest
TV - Released: 9/5/1988

1952

Today
Today
as Self
TV - Released: 1/14/1952