Debra Messing got the ultimate seal of approval when she impersonated Lucille Ball in a 2020 episode of Will & Grace. According to the actress, Lucie Arnaz — the daughter of Ball and her I Love Lucy co-star/real-life husband Desi Arnaz — was on set that day and “cried” when she saw Messing dressed as her late mother.

Messing appeared alongside fellow actress Ellen Pompeo on Monday night’s (March 24) episode of Watch What Happens Live, where she reflected on filming Will & Grace’s tribute episode to I Love Lucy.

“It was the only time that Lucie Arnaz allowed anyone to do any scenes from I Love Lucy,” Messing revealed. “First time ever and only time. And she was on set.”

“I was in costume and she came in and she was like, ‘Oh, my God. Mom, it’s been a long time,'” she remembered. “She hugged me and we all cried.”

Not only was Arnaz on set, but she also made a cameo in the special. The actress told GoldDerby in an April 2020 interview that producers even asked for her “permission” to use the “actual scripts” from I Love Lucy for the episode.

“I thought it was wonderful,” Arnaz said, before adding, “I love that show. I love Will & Grace.”

Arnaz said she “prides” herself on not reenacting I Love Lucy or impersonating her mother, though she admitted that the script was “so damn clever” and “too fun” to turn down when they asked her to make an appearance.

After the episode aired, fans called for Messing to play Ball in Being the Ricardos. However, the role ultimately went to Nicole Kidman, who won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the comedian.

“That was incredibly flattering and of course I saw [the movie],” Messing said on WWHL. “And I am a huge, huge fan of Nicole Kidman. I think she is an astonishing talent.”

Watch What Happens Live airs Sunday through Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.