Trivia

Although she's known for being a redhead, she's actually a brunette.

The pilot of her new series, The Mysteries of Laura (2014) is dedicated to the memory of her mother, Sandy Messing, who died between production and the initial broadcast.

Beat Nicollette Sheridan for the role of Grace Adler on Will & Grace (1998) at the final auditions.

Studied circus courses (i.e. juggling, the trapeze) while at New York University.

Is severely allergic to flowers and perfumes.

On June 5, 2012, she filed for divorce from her husband Daniel Zelman after 11 years of marriage and six months of separation.

Although her son Roman Zelman is not deaf, she has taught him a few words in sign language to make communication easier for him until he learns to talk.

Was six months pregnant with her son, Roman Zelman, when she completed filming on the sixth season of Will & Grace (1998). Returned to work three months after giving birth to Roman Zelman in order to begin filming the seventh season of Will & Grace (1998).

Her family is Ashkenazi Jewish (her ancestors immigrated from Poland and Russia).

Was named Rhode Island's Junior Miss (1986).

Gave birth to her first child at age 35, a son Roman Walker Zelman on April 7, 2004. Child's father is her now ex-husband, Daniel Zelman.

Would have been litigator in case she was not an actress.

Received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Attended and graduated from East Greenwich High School in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Played the leading role as Sandy in her high school production of the musical "Grease".

Received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts (1993).

Was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (2002).

Ranked #22 on the TV Guide Network special, Funniest Women on TV (2011).

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 6, 2017.

Friends with Bette Midler, Heidi Klum, Freddy Rodríguez, Elizabeth Peña, Alfred Molina and Luis Guzmán.

Debra won Best Featured Actress for "Like Sunday, Like Rain" at the 2014 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival.

Replaced Sherilyn Fenn as the female lead on the television series Prey (1998).

Was named TV Guide's "best dressed woman" (2003).

Her father, Brian Messing, is a packaging executive (jewelry packaging).

Nominated for the 2019 Golden Globe Award in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy category for her role as Grace Adler in Will & Grace (1998), but lost to Rachel Brosnahan for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017).

Appeared with her Will & Grace (1998) co-star, Shelley Morrison, in the series episode, Revelations (1998). While Messing was a steady member of the cast, Morrison only had a guest-starring role.

Sister-in-law of Aaron Zelman and Cynthia LaMontagne.

Inducted into the Hair Fan's Hall of Fame (2003).