Actress Debra Messing has revealed that she was mistreated by director Alfonso Arau on the set of her first film, “A Walk in the Clouds,” which was released in 1995.
Speaking at the 2017 Makers conference, Messing said that she was told by Arau that her job was “to get naked and say the lines. That’s it. You should be grateful to have this part.”
Messing ended up performing a n-k-d scene in the film, but said that the experience was a “power play” designed to “demean” and “strip” her of her power.
In another scene, the director commented on her appearance, saying, “How quickly can we get a plastic surgeon in here? Her nose is ruining my movie!”
According to Messing, she had arrived on set under the impression that she would not be performing any n-k-d scenes.
She said that the director’s comments made her feel “ashamed” and “humiliated,” but that she eventually came to embrace her appearance. “I have a strong nose. I have small breasts,” she said. “I’m a f***ing original. My nose and I have come this far, and like Barbra Streisand, I’m defiantly keeping it.”
Messing is best known for her role as Grace Adler on the NBC sitcom “Will & Grace,” which ran from 1998 to 2006.
She has also appeared in films such as “Along Came Polly” and “The Wedding Date,” and has won several awards for her work on television, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
The 2017 Makers conference, held in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, is a three-day event that celebrates women who have made significant contributions to society. This year’s conference featured talks by prominent figures such as Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Shonda Rhimes.
Alfonso Arau is a Mexican film director, producer, and actor. He is best known for his films “Like Water for Chocolate” and “A Walk in the Clouds,” both of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
In addition to his work as a director, Arau has also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in films such as “El Callejón de los Milagros” and “Puss in Boots.”
“A Walk in the Clouds” is a 1995 romantic drama film starring Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. The film, which was directed by Arau, tells the story of a man who falls in love with a young woman while traveling through California’s wine country.
Debra Messing played a supporting role in the film as Reeves’ character’s sister-in-law. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was a box office success, grossing over $60 million worldwide.