Debra Messing

Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress recognized primarily for her portrayal of Grace Adler, an interior designer, in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace (1998–2006; 2017–2020). Born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family, Messing graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and initially appeared in guest roles on series such as NYPD Blue and Seinfeld before landing the lead in Will & Grace, which propelled her to prominence. For her performance as Adler, Messing received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series between 1999 and 2005, as well as seven Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. She has also starred in other television projects including The Starter Wife (2007–2008) and The Mysteries of Laura (2014–2016), and maintained an active stage career with Broadway appearances. Messing has engaged in political activism, vocally supporting Democratic causes and criticizing former President Donald Trump, notably calling in 2019 for media outlets to publicize lists of attendees at his rallies, which drew accusations of McCarthyism. More recently, following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, she has advocated for the Jewish state and against antisemitism, positions that have sparked backlash from some progressive circles amid the ensuing Gaza conflict.

Debra Messing was born Debra Lynn Messing on August 15, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents Brian and Sandra (née Simons) Messing. Her father worked as a sales executive for a jewelry manufacturer, and her mother pursued multiple careers, including as a professional singer, banker, travel agent, and real estate agent. When Messing was three years old, in 1971, the family relocated to East Greenwich, Rhode Island, after her father received a job promotion there.

In East Greenwich, a predominantly non-Jewish community with very few Jewish families, Messing faced antisemitism as a child, including ethnic slurs directed at her and discovering a swastika painted on her grandfather's car. She has recounted learning the term "anti-Semitic" at an early age amid such incidents, which marked her formative experiences in the area.

Messing's parents observed her early affinity for performance, noting her singing and dancing around the home by age three. They encouraged her acting interests but stressed the primacy of education, viewing it as the foremost priority and gift for their child, and advised completing college before committing to an entertainment career. This parental guidance influenced her to pursue higher education alongside her creative pursuits.