Debra Messing

Debra Messing (born on August 15, 1968), is an American actress. She is married to screenwriter Daniel Zelman, and on April 7, 2004, gave birth to their son, Roman Walker Zelman. She became widely known as interior designer Grace Adler in the sitcom Will & Grace. In 2003 she won an Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for the role.

Early life

Messing was born into a Jewish family in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. When she was three she moved with her parents and her older brother, Brett, to a quiet town outside Providence, Rhode Island. Her father, Brian Messing, is a sales executive for a jewelry manufacturer; her mother, Sandy Messing, has worked as a professional singer, banker, travel agent, and real estate agent.

Related Topics:
Jewish - New York City - Brooklyn - Providence, Rhode Island

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As a youngster Messing took lessons in dance, singing, and acting. While Messing's parents encouraged her dream of becoming an actress, they also urged her to get a liberal arts education before deciding on acting as a career. Heeding their advice, she attended Brandeis University, in Waltham, Massachusetts. During her junior year she studied theater at the prestigious British European Studio Group of London program, in England, an experience that fueled her desire to act.

Related Topics:
Liberal arts - Brandeis University - Waltham, Massachusetts - British - England

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

Related Topics:
Summa cum laude - 1990 - Bachelor's degree - New York University - Master's degree

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