Debra Messing

Debra Messing gets a special visitor in LA

Hello! - Found Aug. 15, 2008
Lensing her latest TV series in a Los Angeles park this week, Will And Grace star Debra Messing found herself distracted from the job in hand by a

Posted on August 15, 2008, 11:09 am

Celebrity Birthdays, August 15

Starpulse News Blog - Found Aug. 15, 2008
... actress Natasha Henstridge (1974), " Gigli " star Ben Affleck (1972), " Will And Grace " star Debra Messing (1968), Read more!

Posted on August 15, 2008, 1:00 pm

Today in History - Aug. 15

Forbes.com - Found Aug. 14, 2008
Mazar is 44. Country singer Angela Rae (Wild Horses) is 42. Actor Peter Hermann is 41. Actress Debra Messing is 40. Actor Anthony Anderson is...
Today in History - Aug. 15 - Washington Post
Today in History - Aug. 15 - Forbes.com
Today in History - August 15 - CBS 13
Explore All

Posted on August 14, 2008, 11:16 am

7 Hollywood Curses, Jinxes, and Bizarre Coincidences [Listicle]

Gawker - Found Aug. 11, 2008
I've heard rumors that people who costar with Debra Messing are doomed to play grating, sexless lawyers and that if you undo Diane Keaton's...

Posted on August 11, 2008, 2:02 am

Celebrity Birthdays

International Herald Tribune - Found Aug. 7, 2008
L.A. Law') is 44. Actor Peter Hermann ('Law and Order: Special Victims Unit') is 41. Actress Debra Messing ('Will and Grace') is 40. Actor...

Posted on August 7, 2008, 8:19 am

Debra Messing

Beauty and the Dirt - Found Jul. 31, 2008
... plays and if I were you, get to theatre this Autumn and see Messing shine onscreen. 30 Jul 2008 » Article Tags Debra Messing , Will and Grace...

Posted on July 31, 2008, 6:06 am

Debra Messing: Too Busy for Birthdays

OK! Magazine - Found Jul. 21, 2008
Former Will & Grace star Debra Messing will turn 40 on Aug. 15 ? but this is one milestone she won't be celebrating.

Posted on July 21, 2008, 3:03 am

LOOK OF THE DAY: Debra Messing

In Style UK - Found Jul. 21, 2008
See more Debra Messing To celebrate instyle.co.uk's first birthday, we are giving away a prize every single day in July.

Posted on July 21, 2008, 6:36 am

Emmy Winner Debra Messing Returns in the Emmy Award-Winning Hit ...

PRNewsChannel.com - Found Jul. 21, 2008
- The Emmy Award-winning hit original series, THE STARTER WIFE, starring Debra Messing will premiere on Friday, October 10 at 10/9c on USA...

Posted on July 21, 2008, 12:27 pm

Emmy Winner Debra Messing Returns in the Emmy Award-Winning Hit ...

KOTA Territory News - Found Jul. 21, 2008
LOS ANGELES, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Emmy Award-winning hit original series, THE STARTER WIFE, starring Debra Messing will premiere on Friday,

Posted on July 21, 2008, 1:51 pm

Debra Messing Biography

Debra Messing
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Debra Messing

Messing in 2005
Born Debra Lynn Messing
August 15, 1968 (1968-08-15) (age 40)
Brooklyn, New York
Years active 1994 - present
Spouse(s) Daniel Zelman (2000-)

Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an Emmy- and SAG-winning American actress, known for portraying Grace Adler in Will & Grace and for appearing in a series of film roles. She starred as Molly Kagan in the 2007 television series The Starter Wife.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Messing was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City,[1] the daughter of Sandra (née Simons), who has worked as a professional singer, banker, travel and real estate agent, and Brian Messing, a sales executive for a jewelry manufacturer.[2] Messing is Jewish, a descendant of immigrants from Russia and Poland.[3][4][5] When Messing was three, she moved with her parents and her older brother, Brett, to East Greenwich, a small town outside Providence, Rhode Island.[6]

During her high school years, she acted (and sang) in a number of high school productions, including the starring role in the musical "Annie" and "Fiddler On the Roof". Messing took lessons in dance, singing, and acting. In 1986, she was Rhode Island's Junior Miss and competed in Mobile, Alabama in the America's Junior Miss scholarship program. While her parents encouraged her dream of becoming an actress, they also urged her to complete a liberal arts education before deciding on acting as a career. Following their advice, she attended Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. During her junior year, she studied theater at the prestigious London-based British European Studio Group program, an experience that fueled her desire to act.

In 1990, after graduating summa cum laude from Brandeis with a bachelor's degree in theater arts, Messing gained admission to the elite Graduate Acting Program (which accepts only about 15 new students annually) at New York University, where she earned a master's degree in fine arts after three years.

Career

In 1993, Messing won praise for her acting in the pre-Broadway workshop production of Tony Kushner's much-lauded play Angels in America: Perestroika.[1] Consequently, she appeared in several episodes of the television series NYPD Blue during 1994 and 1995.

In 1995, Messing made her film debut with a relatively small but important role in Alfonso Arau's A Walk in the Clouds playing the unfaithful wife of Keanu Reeves. This exposure led the Fox network to make her the co-star of the television sitcom, Ned and Stacey. The series lasted for two seasons, from 1995 to 1997. Messing appeared as Jerry Seinfeld's date in two episodes of the series Seinfeld: "The Wait Out" in 1996 and "The Yada Yada" in 1997. Messing turned down a starring role in another television sitcom to appear in Donald Margulies's two-character play Collected Stories, which 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 approached her with the pilot script for the television show Will & Grace. Messing was inclined to take some time off, but the script intrigued her, and she auditioned for the role of Grace Adler, beating out Nicollette Sheridan, who later guest-starred on the show as a romantic rival of Grace's. Will & Grace became a ratings success, and Messing gained renown.[1]

In 2002, she 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 include a happily married but ill-fated wife in the supernatural 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 10 Emmy awards including one for Messing for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.

In October 2007, it was announced that Messing would be reprising the role of Molly Kagan when The Starter Wife was renewed as a regular series, which will consist of 10 episodes for the second season by the USA Network cable channel.[7]

Personal life

Messing met her husband, Daniel Zelman (an actor and screenwriter), on their first day as graduate students at NYU in 1990. The two were married on September 3, 2000, and live in New York City. On April 7, 2004, Messing gave birth to their son, Roman Walker Zelman.[8]

Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
1995 A Walk in the Clouds Betty Sutton
1997 McHale's Navy Lt. Penelope Carpenter
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 awaiting release
Humboldt Park TBA awaiting release

Awards

Golden Globe Awards

  • 2000: Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2001: Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2002: Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2003: Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2004: Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2005: Best Actress in a Television Series: Musical or Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2008: Best Actress in a Series, Mini Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - The Starter Wife (nominated).

Emmy Awards

  • 2000: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2001: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2002: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2003: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Won)
  • 2006: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2007: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie - The Starter Wife (Nominated)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

  • 2001: Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2001: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Won)
  • 2002: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2003: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2004: Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2004: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2005: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Will & Grace (Nominated)
  • 2008: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries - The Starter Wife (Nominated)

Teen Choice Awards

  • 2001: Choice TV Actress: Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2002: Choice TV Actress: Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)
  • 2006: Choice TV Actress: Comedy - Will & Grace (nominated)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Debra Messing Videos and Clips

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Debra Messing video Lisa and Joey are chatting with the stars at the  07 Emmy Awards. Check out this interview with Debra Messing and find out what she had to say about... clip
Title: Lisa Chats with Debra Messing at 07 Emmys
Description: Lisa and Joey are chatting with the stars at the 07 Emmy Awards. Check out this interview with Debra Messing and find out what she had to say about...
Debra Messing video Part 1 of Debra Messings appearance on The Megan Mullally Show. clip
Title: Debra Messing on The Megan Mullally Show (Part 1)
Description: Part 1 of Debra Messings appearance on The Megan Mullally Show.
Debra Messing video Part 2 of Debra Messings appearance on The Megan Mullally Show. clip
Title: Debra Messing on The Megan Mullally Show (Part 2)
Description: Part 2 of Debra Messings appearance on The Megan Mullally Show.
Debra Messing video Debra Messing wins a deserved Emmy in  03 for "Will & Grace" clip
Title: Debra Messing Wins Emmy
Description: Debra Messing wins a deserved Emmy in 03 for "Will & Grace"
Debra Messing video This fall, Wife Goes On again as Debra Messing returns to USA Network as Molly Kagan in the new original series, The Starter Wife, recipient of 10 Em... clip
Title: The Starter Wife starring Debra Messing returns this Fall!
Description: This fall, Wife Goes On again as Debra Messing returns to USA Network as Molly Kagan in the new original series, The Starter Wife, recipient of 10 Em...
Debra Messing video from the show will and grace clip
Title: glenn close kissing debra messing
Description: from the show will and grace
Debra Messing video By request, this is the full version of one of the clips I used in my Karen/Megan montages. It is Access Hollywood coverage of an event called Cracke... clip
Title: Megan Mullally and Debra Messing make out
Description: By request, this is the full version of one of the clips I used in my Karen/Megan montages. It is Access Hollywood coverage of an event called Cracke...
Debra Messing video Debra Messing Shopping on the streets of NYC soho, in fron of the apple store. She had pooporazzi around..thats how I knew she was there. clip
Title: Debra Messing, No Will and Grace Shopping in NYC
Description: Debra Messing Shopping on the streets of NYC soho, in fron of the apple store. She had pooporazzi around..thats how I knew she was there.