Debra Messing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Debra Messing
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
Spouse(s)	Daniel Zelman ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2016)​
Children	1

Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. She is most famous for her role as Grace Adler in the popular TV comedy series Will & Grace. This role made her a star and won her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2003.

Messing has starred in many other TV shows. She played Molly Kagan in the miniseries The Starter Wife and Julia Houston in the musical drama Smash. She also played detective Laura Diamond in The Mysteries of Laura.

Besides television, Messing has appeared in many movies. Some of her films include A Walk in the Clouds (1995), The Wedding Date (2005), and Searching (2018). She also provided her voice for animated movies like Open Season (2006).

Early Life and School

Debra Messing was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Sandra, was a professional singer, banker, and agent. Her father, Brian, was a sales executive for a jewelry company. Her family is Jewish, with roots in Russia, Poland, and England. When she was three, her family moved to East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

From a young age, Messing dreamed of being an actress. Her parents supported her dream but wanted her to get a good education first. She went to Brandeis University and studied Theater Arts. She graduated in 1990 with the highest honors.

After college, she was accepted into a special acting program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. The program is very competitive and only accepts about 16 students each year. She studied there for three years and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree.

Acting Career

Early Roles

In 1993, Messing received praise for her role in the play Angels in America: Perestroika. Soon after, she appeared in a few episodes of the TV show NYPD Blue.

Messing at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009.

Her first movie was A Walk in the Clouds in 1995, where she acted alongside Keanu Reeves. This role helped her get a main part in the TV comedy Ned & Stacey, which was on for two seasons. She also had a memorable role on the show Seinfeld for two episodes.

In 1998, Messing starred in a science-fiction show called Prey. During this time, she was given the script for a new show called Will & Grace. She almost didn't audition, but she loved the script and won the part of Grace Adler.

Stardom with Will & Grace

Will & Grace became a huge hit. Messing's performance as the funny and charming interior designer Grace Adler was loved by audiences and critics. The show was a major success and made her a household name. For her work on the show, she was nominated for many awards.

The show originally ran from 1998 to 2006. In 2017, Messing and the rest of the cast returned for a revival of Will & Grace, which lasted for three more seasons until 2020.

Roles in Film and Other TV Shows

While working on Will & Grace, Messing also appeared in movies. She was in the supernatural thriller The Mothman Prophecies (2002) and the comedy Along Came Polly (2004). In 2005, she had her first leading role in a major film, The Wedding Date.

After Will & Grace first ended, she starred in the TV miniseries The Starter Wife in 2007. The show was so popular that it was turned into a regular series the next year.

From 2012 to 2013, she played a Broadway playwright in the musical TV show Smash. Then, from 2014 to 2016, she starred as a police detective in The Mysteries of Laura. She has also been a guest judge on the reality show Project Runway.

Personal Life

Messing met actor and screenwriter Daniel Zelman in 1990 when they were both students at New York University. They married in 2000 and have one son. The couple separated in 2011 and their divorce was finalized in 2016.

Activism

Messing is a supporter of the Democratic Party and often encourages people to vote. In 2018, she co-founded an organization called "I am a voter." to help educate people about voting.

She has also been a strong supporter of Israel, especially after the October 7 attacks. She spoke at the March for Israel event in Washington, D.C. to show her support.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Honors

Debra Messing has been nominated for many awards throughout her career. Her role as Grace Adler in Will & Grace is her most celebrated one.

• Emmy Awards: She was nominated five times for Will & Grace and won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2003.
• Golden Globe Awards: She has received nine nominations, mostly for Will & Grace and The Starter Wife.
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: She has eight nominations and won once with the cast of Will & Grace in 2001.
• Hollywood Walk of Fame: In 2017, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in television.

See also

In Spanish: Debra Messing para niños