Editing Fran Drescher (section)

==Career==

===Early career===
Drescher's first break was a small role as dancer Connie in the movie ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'' (1977), in which she delivered the line "So, are you as good in bed as you are on the dance floor?" to [[John Travolta]]'s character. A year later, she began to gain attention in films such as ''[[American Hot Wax]]'' (1978) and ''[[Stranger in Our House|Summer of Fear]]'' (1978). She also took on a rare dramatic role in the 1981 [[Miloš Forman]] film ''[[Ragtime (film)|Ragtime]]''. During the 1980s, Drescher found success as a [[character actress]] with roles in films such as ''[[Gorp (film)|Gorp]]'' (1980), ''[[The Hollywood Knights]]'' (1980), ''[[Doctor Detroit]]'' (1983), ''[[The Big Picture (1989 film)|The Big Picture]]'' (1989), ''[[UHF (film)|UHF]]'' (1989), ''[[Cadillac Man]]'' (1990), and memorably in ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' (1984) as publicist Bobbi Flekman. She also made an appearance in a second-season episode of ''[[Who's the Boss?]]'' in 1985 as an interior decorator. She also had an appearance on ''[[Night Court]]'' as a woman with dissociative identity disorder who flips from a prude to a sexually minded woman and ends up in a hotel with Assistant District Attorney [[Dan Fielding]]. In 1990, Drescher appeared on ''[[ALF (TV series)|ALF]]'' as Roxanne, the wife of grown-up Brian, who had no clue she was a mob boss, in the episode "Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades". In 1991, Drescher co-starred on the short-lived CBS sitcom ''[[Princesses (TV series)|Princesses]]''. In the early-to-mid 1990s, she voiced "Peggy" from ''The P Pals'' on [[PBS]] (the woman with the flower on her hat).

===''The Nanny'' and film roles===
[[File:Fran Drescher mirror.jpg|thumb|upright|Drescher in 1996]]
Drescher and Jacobson created their own television show, ''[[The Nanny]]'', in 1993. The show aired on [[CBS]] from 1993 to 1999, and Drescher became an instant star. In this sitcom, she played a woman named Fran Fine who casually became the nanny of Margaret ("Maggie") (played by [[Nicholle Tom]]), Brighton ("B") (played by [[Benjamin Salisbury]]), and Grace ("Gracie") Sheffield (played by [[Madeline Zima]]); with her wit and her charm, she endeared herself to their widower father: stuffy, composed, proper British gentleman and Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield ([[Charles Shaughnessy]]). She reprised her ''This is Spinal Tap'' character of Bobbi Flekman, a look-alike for her Fran Fine character, in season 5, episode 3, of ''The Nanny''. Drescher appeared in ''[[Jack (1996 film)|Jack]]'' (1996), directed by [[Francis Ford Coppola]], ''[[The Beautician and the Beast]]'' (1997) (for which she was also executive producer) and ''[[Picking Up the Pieces (film)|Picking Up the Pieces]]'' (2000) co-starring [[Woody Allen]]. She was also the voice of "Pearl" in ''[[Shark Bait (2006 film)|Shark Bait]]'' (2006).

===Return to television===
In the 2000s, Drescher made a return to television both with leading and guest roles. In 2003, Drescher appeared in episodes of the short-lived sitcom ''[[Good Morning, Miami]]'' as Roberta Diaz. In 2005, she returned with the sitcom ''[[Living with Fran]]'', in which she played Fran Reeves, a middle-aged mother of two living with Riley Martin ([[Ryan McPartlin]]), a man half her age and not much older than her son. Former ''Nanny'' costar Charles Shaughnessy appeared as her philandering ex-husband, Ted. ''Living with Fran'' was cancelled on May 17, 2006, after two seasons.

In 2006, Drescher guest-starred in an episode of ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''; the episode, "The War at Home", aired on US television on November 14, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/law-and-order-criminal-intent/the-war-at-home/episode/913601/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;7 |title=Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Season 6, Episode 8: The War at Home |website=TV.com |date=November 14, 2006 |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-date=May 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517061928/http://www.tv.com/law-and-order-criminal-intent/the-war-at-home/episode/913601/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;7 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She also appeared in an episode of ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]'' and, in the same year, gave her voice to the role of a female [[golem]] in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Treehouse of Horror XVII]]". In 2007, Drescher appeared in the US version of the Australian improvisational comedy series ''[[Thank God You're Here (U.S. TV series)|Thank God You're Here]]''. In 2008, Drescher announced that she was developing a new sitcom entitled ''The New Thirty'', also starring [[Rosie O'Donnell]]. A series about two old high school friends coping with midlife crises, Drescher described the premature plot of the show as "kind of ''[[Sex and the City]]'' but we ain't getting any! It'll probably be more like ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple]]''."<ref name="tnt">{{cite web |first=Julie |last=Gordon |url=http://www.newsday.com/buzz-rosie-o-donnell-fran-drescher-combine-for-tv-s-whiniest-sitcom-1.880364 |title=BUZZ: Rosie O'Donnell, Fran Drescher combine for TV's whiniest sitcom? |work=[[Newsday]] |date=May 22, 2008 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013071040/http://www.newsday.com/buzz-rosie-o-donnell-fran-drescher-combine-for-tv-s-whiniest-sitcom-1.880364 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was never produced.<ref name="tnt"/>

In 2010, Drescher returned to television with her own daytime talk show, ''[[The Fran Drescher Tawk Show]]''. While the program debuted to strong ratings, it ended its three-week test run to moderate success, resulting in its shelving.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paige |last=Albiniak |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/460398-Audiences_Still_Love_The_Nanny_.php |title=Audiences Still Love ''The Nanny'' |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=November 29, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000351/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/460398-Audiences_Still_Love_The_Nanny_.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Paige |last=Albiniak |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/461400-Syndies_Flat_as_Holiday_Season_Revs_Up.php |title=Syndies Flat as Holiday Season Revs Up |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=December 21, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=April 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403123207/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/461400-Syndies_Flat_as_Holiday_Season_Revs_Up.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, the sitcom ''[[Happily Divorced]]'', created by Drescher and her ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, was picked up by [[TV Land]] for a ten-episode order. It premiered there June 15, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/fran-drescher-talks-being-happily-divorced-from-gay-ex-husband/2011/06/14/AGJ4lhUH_blog.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 14, 2011 |title=Fran Drescher talks being 'Happily Divorced' from gay ex-husband |author=Sarah Anne Hughes |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004192039/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/fran-drescher-talks-being-happily-divorced-from-gay-ex-husband/2011/06/14/AGJ4lhUH_blog.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The show was renewed in July 2011 for a second season of 12 episodes, which aired in spring 2012. On May 1, 2012, TV Land extended the second season and picked up 12 additional episodes, taking the second season total to 24. The back-order of season two debuted later in 2012. ''Happily Divorced'' was cancelled in August 2013.

To promote ''Happily Divorced'', Drescher performed the weddings of three gay couples in New York City using the minister's license she received from the [[Universal Life Church]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themonastery.org/blog/2012/03/ulc-minister-fran-drescher-to-officiate-gay-wedding/ |title=ULC Minister Fran Drescher to Officiate Gay Wedding – Universal Life Church Monastery Blog |website=Themonastery.org |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-date=July 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703074155/http://www.themonastery.org/blog/2012/03/ulc-minister-fran-drescher-to-officiate-gay-wedding/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Drescher hand-picked the three couples, all of whom were entrants into "Fran Drescher's 'Love Is Love' Gay Marriage Contest" on Facebook, based on the stories the couples submitted about how they met, why their relationship illustrated that "love is love" and why they wanted to be married by her.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fran-drescher-to-marry-three-gay-couples-in-new-york-city-on-tuesday-march-6-139320183.html;title;7 |title=Fran Drescher to Marry Three Gay Couples in New York City on... – NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – |access-date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415223357/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fran-drescher-to-marry-three-gay-couples-in-new-york-city-on-tuesday-march-6-139320183.html |archive-date=April 15, 2012 }}</ref>

===Broadway===
Drescher made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut on February 4, 2014, in the revival of [[Richard Rodgers|Rodgers]] and [[Oscar Hammerstein II|Hammerstein]]'s ''[[Cinderella (2013 Broadway production)|Cinderella]]''.<ref name=thr /> She replaced [[Harriet Sansom Harris|Harriet Harris]] as stepmother Madame for a 10-week engagement. She reprised the role during the North American tour's engagement in [[Los Angeles]], lasting from March through April 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Fran-Drescher-to-Reprise-Role-in-CINDERELLA-at-the-Ahmanson-This-Month-20150309 |title=Fran Drescher to Reprise Role in CINDERELLA at the Ahmanson This Month |website=Broadway World |date=March 9, 2015 |access-date=September 2, 2021 |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423050535/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Fran-Drescher-to-Reprise-Role-in-CINDERELLA-at-the-Ahmanson-This-Month-20150309 |url-status=live }}</ref> Drescher's previous stage performances include an [[off-Broadway]] production of [[Nora Ephron]]'s ''[[Love, Loss, and What I Wore]]'', and ''[[Camelot (musical)|Camelot]]'' at the [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts|Lincoln Center]] with the [[New York Philharmonic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2014/02/fran_drescher_makes_broadway_d.html |title=Fran Drescher makes Broadway debut in 'Cinderella' |website=The Star-Ledger |date=February 14, 2014 |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070618/http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2014/02/fran_drescher_makes_broadway_d.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 8, 2020, it was announced that Drescher and Jacobson were writing the book for a musical adaptation of ''[[The Nanny]]''. [[Rachel Bloom]] and [[Adam Schlesinger]] of ''[[Crazy Ex-Girlfriend]]'' were brought on to compose the songs prior to Schlesinger's death in April 2020, while Marc Bruni (''[[Beautiful: The Carole King Musical]]'') was slated to direct. Drescher will not portray the title role, as she joked that if she did "We'd have to change the title to ''The Granny''."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/fran-drescher-working-on-the-nanny-musical-rachel-bloom-and-adam-schlesinger-to-pen-score|title=Fran Drescher Working on ''The Nanny'' Musical; Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger to Pen Score|first=Dan|last=Meyer|work=Playbill|date=January 8, 2020|access-date=January 8, 2020|archive-date=January 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109003308/http://www.playbill.com/article/fran-drescher-working-on-the-nanny-musical-rachel-bloom-and-adam-schlesinger-to-pen-score|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Trade union leader ===
In 2021, Drescher began her campaign to become president of the
''Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists'' ([[SAG-AFTRA]]) union, citing both her entertainment and [[#Politics|political background]]. Her candidacy came from the "Unite for Strength" faction, and she ran against actor [[Matthew Modine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/tom-hanks-endorses-fran-drescher-for-president-of-sag-aftra-1234810275/|title=Tom Hanks Endorses Fran Drescher For President Of SAG-AFTRA|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=August 5, 2021|last=Robb|first=David|access-date=August 8, 2021|archive-date=August 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808010324/https://deadline.com/2021/08/tom-hanks-endorses-fran-drescher-for-president-of-sag-aftra-1234810275/|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 2, 2021, SAG-AFTRA announced that Drescher had won the election.<ref name=president/> On July 13, 2023, after SAG-AFTRA members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike action a week prior,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-06-05/sag-aftra-strike-hollywood-labor-amptp-strike-authorization |title=SAG-AFTRA members approve strike authorization by overwhelming margin |date=June 5, 2023 |last=Sakoui |first=Anousha |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=July 13, 2023 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705030759/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-06-05/sag-aftra-strike-hollywood-labor-amptp-strike-authorization |url-status=live }}</ref> Drescher announced the [[2023 SAG-AFTRA strike|SAG-AFTRA strike]] was to begin at midnight the following day, running alongside the concurrent ''Writers Guild of America'' strike ([[2023 Writers Guild of America strike|WGA strike]]) that began just over two months prior.<ref name=":0">PBS News Hour, July 13, 2023 'Screen Actors Guild president Fran Drescher announces unanimous vote to go on strike' https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/screen-actors-guild-to-vote-on-strike-after-contract-deadline-passes-without-a-deal {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716072219/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/screen-actors-guild-to-vote-on-strike-after-contract-deadline-passes-without-a-deal |date=July 16, 2023 }}</ref> The strike ended with a tentative deal between the union and the [[Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers]] which was approved by the SAG-AFTRA board.  Drescher was elected to a second two-year term as SAG-AFTRA president in August 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sagaftra.org/about/governance/2023-sag-aftra-elections | title=2023 SAG-AFTRA Elections }}</ref>
On July 25, 2024, ten months after SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhemingly to authorize another strike against the video game industry, Drescher stated that SAG-AFTRA would begin a [[2024 SAG-AFTRA video game strike|strike]] against major video game publishers, with the strike then going into effect the following day at 12:01 am.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-members-who-work-video-games-go-strike|title=A.I. Protections Remain the Sticking Point|publisher=SAG-AFTRA|date=July 25, 2024|accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sag-aftra-calls-strike-against-major-video-game-studios-1235957116/|title=SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Studios|first=Erik|last=Hayden|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 25, 2024|accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/sag-aftra-video-game-strike-actors-union-1236085195/|title=SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Publishers|first=Jennifer|last=Maas|publisher=Variety|date=July 25, 2024|accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/video-game-voice-actor-members-sag-aftra-go-strike-over-lack-ai-protections-union/KJROSWJI75BG5AKQEXPK3K25DE/|title=Video game voice actor members of SAG-AFTRA go on strike over lack of AI protections for union|publisher=WSB-TV|date=July 26, 2024|accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/what-the-sag-aftra-video-game-actors-strike-means-for-gamers|title=What the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Strike Means for Gamers|first=Rebekah|last=Valentine|publisher=IGN|date=July 26, 2024|accessdate=July 26, 2024}}</ref>