Debra Messing

Debra Lynn Messing, an American actress, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is of Ashkenazi Jewish, Polish, and Russian descent. She began her career on stage and television, but her breakout came with the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, where she played interior designer Grace Adler from 1998 to 2006 and again in the revival from 2017 to 2020. That role earned her seven Golden Globe nominations, five Primetime Emmy nominations, and one Emmy win in 2003. She has also starred in The Starter Wife, Smash, and The Mysteries of Laura, earning multiple award nominations along the way. Messing's film work spans A Walk in the Clouds, Along Came Polly, Searching, and 13: The Musical, plus voice roles in animated features like Garfield and Open Season.

Beyond acting, Messing is active in politics. She supports the Democratic Party and has worked on campaigns since 2004. In 2018, she co-founded the nonpartisan civic movement I am a voter. with Mandana Dayani. She has also been outspoken on social issues, particularly regarding Israel and antisemitism. In October 2023, she signed an open letter supporting the Israeli military, and the following month she confronted TikTok executives, accusing the platform of being a main source of "Jew hate."

Messing is married to actor and screenwriter Daniel Zelman. At 57 years old, she stands 5'8" with a slim build, red hair, and blue eyes. She has amassed 1.4 million Instagram followers.