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As Grace Adler, 32-year-old Debra Messing forms one eponymous half of Will And Grace, the sitcom that not only dared to 'Do the gay thing' on American network television, but which also pulled it off, in a 'wiping the floor with Friends' kind of way. The woman has Seinfeld on her CV, she's just completed filming the next Woody Allen movie, and she plays the lead in a show that's rated its tits off from the word go... So, how come Debra Messing feels like a total fraud?

You lived in the UK for a while, didn't you?

I lived in London in 1989 for about 7 months as a student, just off Regents Park on Gloucester Road, right by Baker Street tube. It was a two bedrooom flat with five of us living in it, and it was fabulous>. I'd go up to Camden market on Sundays, dressed in black with my Doc Martens, and buy clothes and jewelry. I loved it.

The last time British viewers saw you on a TV screen was in Seinfeld...

Oh come on, it was just two episodes...

Granted, but even so... It was Seinfeld!

I know! I was one of the Seinfeld Girls! [laughs] I was Jerry Seinfeld's dream girl, Dr Beth, who he'd always dreamed of marrying because she was so perfect. And then he finds out that I was this horrific, raging racist being. It was so funny. I mean, in his eyes, I was perfect: a doctor, kind, charitable, all that stuff.... But I was also a horrible racist.

We're now seeing you on the same channel that airs West Wing, Sopranos, ER and so on. US TV is getting a bit good these days, isn't it?

It's wonderful to hear that from someone in the UK. I mean, it's a view I share, but it's funny, until you said that, I've never really discussed that with other people. The fact is, I'm incredibly proud, and I feel incredibly lucky to be involved with television at this time. It's been an incredibly powerful medium for so long, but what's good now is that it doesn't have the stigma it once had - it's no longer the stupid second child to Film. These days, people are willing to put the money into productions that will elevate them to Film Production values. I think people are just becoming aware of what a powerful creative medium it is.

It came as quite a surprise to see a sitcom with a dominant gay element doing so well. Were you ever worried about taking on the role?

Will And Grace was pitched to me before I'd even read the script and yes, I was concerned at first, purely because I have many gay friends, and the history of gay characters on television for the most part has been one of 'secondary characters' that you laugh at, that you make fun of, that are caricatures and cartoons. Not characters that are imbued with emotions, that are in loving relationships or contributing into society in any important way, you know, just not being taken seriously.

And once you'd seen the scripts?

Oh, I said 'OK sign me up, let's do this.' My thoughts were, well, regardless of whether America accepts this, it's going to be something that I'll be really proud to be part of. And I'd rather attempt with integrity than sell out for the sake of a hit.

As Grace, you explore that whole "Gay man as girls' best-friend" arena. Why do you think the combination works so well?

Well, to say that sex is powerful is sort of trite, I suppose, but I really think that power actually goes beyond understanding. As soon as you remove the sex element from a relationship between a man and a woman, irrespective of orientation, when you know for a fact that there is no way ever that the two of you are going to become sexually involved, it changes everything, it really does.

There's an awful lot of straight men who'd like to know how that works...

Oh, it's simple when you think about it: it just lifts out any facades, any posturing, any assessing... you know, that whole "peacock" element that we get when we're around someone that we're physically attracted to. Once that's gone, what's left is honesty. And the depth of honesty that's involved between gay men and straight women allows you to reach a far more intimate level, far more quickly than is the case when there's a sexual question mark. You can spend whole nights spooning without wondering what that's supposed to lead to, knowing that you simply were lucky enough to spend the night cuddling with someone you love. You never find yourself wondering 'Hmm, well what does that mean?'.

Will And Grace has won more than its fair share of awards - do you like that whole 'Glamming up for the crowds' thing?

You know what? Every time we go to an award ceremony I feel like a total fraud. I always think someone's going to tap me on the shoulder and say "Excuse me, you're not supposed to be here". I swear to God. Even though you've got the beautiful gown, the beautiful jewelry, all this borrowed stuff that makes you Cinderella for the night... sorry, I just freeze and think "OH MY GOD, WHAT AM I DOING ON THIS RED CARPET WITH DUSTIN HOFFMAN AND JACK NICHLSON!?!?!"

You carry it off pretty well.

Oh on the outside, yes, I manage the grace and poise, but inside I'm like losing my mind. I'm not joking - I really did nearly break down sobbing when I met Dustin.

Links:

• Arena - http://www.emapmagazines.co.uk/
• Will & Grace (NBC)