Debra Messing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Debra Messing
Debra Messing in 2009
Born	Debra Lynn Messing (1968-08-15) August 15, 1968 (age 56) New York City, U.S.
Education	Brandeis University (BA) New York University (MFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1993–present
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Daniel Zelman ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2016)​
Partner(s)	Will Chase (2011–2014)
Children	1

Debra Messing (born August 15, 1968) is a famous American actress. She is best known for her role as Grace Adler in the popular TV show Will & Grace. This show was a comedy about two best friends, Will and Grace, and their adventures. Debra Messing played Grace, an interior designer.

Before Will & Grace, Debra Messing starred in other TV shows like Ned and Stacey and Prey. Her role in Will & Grace made her a big star. She even won an Emmy Award in 2003 for her acting in the show. The show was so popular that it came back for more seasons years later!

Debra Messing has also acted in many movies. Some of her films include Along Came Polly, The Wedding Date, and Searching. She has also used her voice for animated movies like Garfield and Open Season.

Early Life and Education

Debra Messing was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her mom, Sandra, worked in different jobs like a singer and a travel agent. Her dad, Brian, was a sales executive. When Debra was three, her family moved to East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She has an older brother named Brett.

Growing up, Debra loved acting and singing. She performed in many high school plays and musicals, including Annie and Grease. She also took lessons in dance, singing, and acting. In 1986, she was named Rhode Island's Junior Miss.

Even though Debra wanted to be an actress, her parents encouraged her to get a good education first. She went to Brandeis University. There, she studied theater but also took many other subjects. During her third year, she studied theater in London, which made her even more sure about becoming an actress.

After college, Debra went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. This is a very selective school for acting. She earned a special degree called a Master of Fine Arts after three years of study.

Acting Career Highlights

Debra Messing started her acting career in 1993. She performed in a play called Angels in America: Perestroika. Soon after, she appeared in a few episodes of the TV series NYPD Blue.

Debra Messing at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009.

In 1995, Debra made her first movie appearance in A Walk in the Clouds. This led to her co-starring in the TV comedy Ned & Stacey. The show ran for two seasons. She also had guest roles in the famous comedy show Seinfeld.

A big moment in her career came in 1998 when she got the lead role in Will & Grace. She played Grace Adler, a fun and stylish interior designer. The show was a huge success and made her a household name. She was praised by critics and nominated for many awards for her role.

Debra Messing also took on different movie roles. She was in the thriller The Mothman Prophecies and the comedy Along Came Polly. In 2005, she had her first main role in a big movie, The Wedding Date.

She continued to star in TV shows like The Starter Wife (2007-2008). She also played a Broadway writer in the musical drama Smash (2012-2013). From 2014 to 2016, she played a detective in the police comedy The Mysteries of Laura.

In 2017, Will & Grace returned for three more seasons, and Debra Messing reprised her role as Grace Adler. This showed how much fans loved the character and the show.

Personal Life and Activism

Debra Messing met her future husband, Daniel Zelman, at New York University in 1990. They got married in 2000 and had a son named Roman in 2004. They later divorced in 2016. She also dated her Smash co-star Will Chase for a few years.

Debra Messing is also known for her activism. She supports the Democratic Party. In 2018, she helped start an organization called "I am a voter." This group works to teach people about voting and encourage them to participate in elections. She often uses her platform to share information about important causes.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Recognitions

Debra Messing has won many awards for her acting. Her most famous role as Grace Adler in Will & Grace brought her a lot of recognition.

Honors

• 2005: She received the Lucy Award from Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards. This award celebrates women in creative works who improve how women are seen on TV.
• 2017: She was honored with the GLAAD Excellence in Media Award by GLAAD. This award is for people in media who help increase understanding of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community.
• 2017: Debra Messing received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her amazing work in television. Her star is located at 6201 Hollywood Blvd.

Accolades

See also

In Spanish: Debra Messing para niños