Power Jane: Fran Drescher
Fran Drescher has been described as a “Russell” – she has the comic timing of Rosalind Russell, the curves of Jane Russell, and the tenacity of a Jack Russell!
Fran received two Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal as the lovable 'Miss Fine' on the CBS hit series “The Nanny”, a show she also created, wrote, directed and executive produced. More recently, she starred in the WB’s series “Living with Fran” (an older woman/younger man romantic comedy) and recently guest starred on the HBO hit series “Entourage.”
An accomplished film actress, Fran won Esquire Magazine’s Five Minute Oscar for her memorable performance in the mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap.” She has co-starred in countless films throughout her career with the likes of Robin Williams, Dan Aykroyd, Tim Robbins and Billy Crystal and has worked with such esteemed directors as Rob Reiner, Milos Forman and Francis Ford Coppola. She is most proud of "Beautician and The Beast" a film she both executive produced and starred in with Timothy Dalton.
On stage, Fran has had the privilege of performing in Ron Ribman’s “Rug Merchants of Chaos” at The Pasadena Playhouse in LA, “The Exonerated” in NYC directed by Bob Balaban, Neil LaBute’s “Some Girls” directed by Jo Bonney, the NY Philharmonic’s production of “Camelot” which also aired as a Live from Lincoln Center special on PBS. Most recently she starred in the Nora & Delia Ephron play “Love, Loss, and What I Wore”.
Fran is also an accomplished author. Both of her books, Enter Whining and Cancer Schmancer were New York Times bestsellers. For Cancer Schmancer, Fran received the prestigious NCCS writer’s award. A uterine cancer survivor, Fran celebrated 9 years of wellness on June 21st, 2009. For her accomplishments as a health-care advocate, she is the recipient of the John Wayne Institute Woman of Achievement Award, the Gilda Award, the City of Hope Woman of the Year Award and the Hebrew University Humanitarian Award, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Spirit of Achievement award among many others.
A leading women’s health advocate, Fran is the President of the Cancer Schmancer Movement, a non-profit organization that is transforming women from patients into medical consumers, and shifting this nation's priority from looking for a cure towards prevention and early detection. She was instrumental in getting “The Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act” signed into law. Fran is also the Special Envoy for Women’s Health Issues for the US State Department, using her celebrity to speak to women globally about healthy living and empowerment. She traveled throughout Eastern Europe, Australia, and North America, and will embark on a trip through the Middle East and Africa later this year.
Learn more at http://www.cancerschmancer.org/