As interior decorator Grace Adler, Debra Messing understands the unique bond of friendship that exists between Grace and Will: "Grace is very dedicated and disciplined when it comes to her professional life," says Messing. "But her personal life isn't nearly so together, and Will is her stabilizing force. She's a little neurotic, and she knows Will is the only person who understands her and can help her put things in perspective. But Grace is also a lot of fun, and her humor helps balance Will's more serious personality. They're the kind of best friends who know each other's history and can finish each other's sentences."

Eric McCormack, who plays attorney Will Truman, describes Will's sexuality: "Gay characters are often shown struggling with the issue of being gay. Will is past that voyage of discovery. He's content with his sexuality and has come to a point where he can relax and enjoy a wonderful day-to-day relationship with his best friend."

Megan Mullally plays Karen, Grace's socialite assistant. Explaining what attracted her to the part, she says, "A lot of times the funniest characters are those who don't know that they've got it all wrong. Karen is completely confident that her way is the right way." Karen's rich husband's name is Stan, who is her second husband. She has two step-children, Olivia and Mason, and a housekeeper named Rosario.

Eric McCormack and Debra Messing may be the stars of Will & Grace, but it's Sean Hayes who gets the biggest laughs as Will's flamboyantly bitchy pal Jack McFarland. "He's wacky, pretentious and bitter," Hayes says. "And when things are bad, he's there to make them worse." Jack has a pet parrot named Guapo and a dog named Klaus Von Puppy.

Rosario is Karen's feisty Salvadoran maid. She married Jack to get her green card; the two live in the help's quarters of Karen and Stan's penthouse.