It’s the end of the road for Debra Messing‘s marriage to Daniel Zelman as she filed for divorce earlier this week.

Messing’s lawyer Neal Hersh turned in paperwork in Los Angeles citing “irreconcilable differences” and listed the couple’s date of separation as February 2010. Messing and Zelman’s split was announced 6 months ago.

The pair married in 2000 and have one child, an 8 year-old son. The 43 year-old former star of Will & Grace is seeking joint custody and is asking for spousal and child support.

Messing and Zelman are reported to have an ‘amicable’ split.

Zelman is a producer whose current work is on the show Damages with Glenn Close.

Legal eagle Hersh has represented Camille Grammer and Halle Berry in their divorces.

[image: Nikki Nelson/WENN]

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Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating today, August 15th, including:

1944 – Linda Ellerbee, journalist
1950 – Princess Anne, member of the British Royal Family
1962 – Tom Colicchio, reality TV personality
1967 – Peter Hermann, actor
1968 – Debra Messing, actress
1969 – Cris Judd, choreographer
1970 – Anthony Anderson, actor
1972 – Ben Affleck, actor
1974 – Natasha Henstridge, actress
1989 – Joe Jonas, singer
1989 – Carlos Pena Jr., singer

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Debra Messing is headed back to prime time TV with the drama Smash.

NBC has picked up the pilot, which stars Messing, Anjelica Huston, Katherine McPhee, Megan Hilty and Jack Davenport as a group of writers, directors and actors putting together a play based on Marilyn Monroe’s life.

The show will feature musical numbers each episode, but Messing is quick to point out – it’s not Glee.

“I think Glee is extraordinary and original and fabulous,”  the Will & Grace actress told EW. “I think Smash is similar in that there is singing, but I think that’s where the similarities end”

“Glee is a comedy and ours is a drama,” Messing continued. “And Glee is in a fantastic sort of elevated world and Smash is completely naturalistic, a very real look at life in New York as an actor, producer, composer, lyricist, what have you.”

Here is the synopsis:

The series centers on a desire to create a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe — written by the successful songwriting duo of Tom (Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, “Legally Blonde: The Musical”) and Julia (Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, “Will & Grace”). Julia recently began the process of adopting a child with her husband of many years, but her focus is torn when she has the opportunity to write another Broadway hit. A rivalry soon forms for the lead role between a youthful, inexperienced Midwestern beauty (Katharine McPhee, “American Idol”) — who is trying to find fame in the big city against all odds — and stage veteran (Megan Hilty, “9 to 5: The Musical”), who’s determined to leave the chorus line and finally get her big break. A tenacious producer Eileen (Oscar winner, Anjelica Huston, “Prizzi’s Honor”) discovers the “Marilyn” project and jumps on board with a brilliant director (Jack Davenport, “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) — whose talent is matched by his cunning and egocentric amorality.

Produced by Steven Spielberg, the show lands on NBC’s midseason 2011/2012 schedule.

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