'Smash' brought Debra Messing, Will Chase together, says director

Smash director Michael Mayer has credited the series with bringing co-stars Debra Messing and Will Chase together.

The former Will and Grace actress, who split from husband Daniel Zelman in December, was later reported to be romantically involved with Chase, who had apparently left his wife for the relationship.

Mayer revealed that on-set romances are common in the Broadway world, an occurrence which is reflected on-screen in Smash.

"On Broadway, we call it a 'showmance'. That's where people meet and fall in love," he explained to People.

"I don't know where Debra and Will would have met [otherwise]. So [Smash] brought them together. And the context of their on-screen relationship, I'm sure that triggered a lot."

Messing has said that she has no plans to divorce Zelman right away and the pair continue to live together for the sake of their 7-year-old son Roman.

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