Actress, producer, writer, Fran Drescher shot to stardom with her hilarious hit television series The Nanny in 1993. Her unique combination of stunning beauty, flare for comedy and that voice helped introduce her to the world on the silver screen in Saturday Night Fever, American Hot Wax, This is Spinal Tap, Doctor Detroit, Cadillac Man and more.
The funny girl from Queens won a spot as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine and starred both on and off Broadway in Cinderella and Some Girls, respectively. Her hit TV show garnered her numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
After the sitcom ended in 1999 Drescher was diagnosed with Stage 1 uterine cancer. She underwent a radical hysterectomy, wrote about her ordeals with misdiagnosis, surgery and survival in her second of three books, Cancer Schmancer, then launched the Cancer Schmancer Movement in 2007. President George W. Bush’s Administration appointed her a Public Diplomacy Envoy for Women’s Health Issues and she received the City of Hope Spirit of Life Award presented to her by then-Senator Hillary Clinton. On October 13th, Drescher is hosting an all-day Cancer Schmancer Women’s Health Summit at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The Summit includes discussions, panels, awards, vital information, along with Honorary Committee members Ed Begley, Jr., Rosie O’Donnell and other special guests.
Drescher granted this exclusive interview to The Tolucan Times.
What drew you to acting in junior high?
I rationalized at a very young age that of all the things I was good at, acting was the thing I enjoyed doing all the time and it never felt like ‘work’. I thought that should be how I make a living….
You worked with the late Robin Williams on a few projects.
Robin was one of the people that I always credit with teaching me how to be a star that is more like a host of a party rather than an elitist who needs to be serviced. He and Dan Aykroyd set that example for me early on in my career and I never forgot that. Robin was a lovely, sweet man who was a sad clown and when you spent time with him you were able to see that side of him. I feel very sad that he was in so much pain that he wanted to end his life…
When you did “The Nanny” did you see the success of that show coming?
When we shot the pilot we saw the audience reaction to a show they had never seen before and characters they had never met. They were so with us and laughing in all the right places – we knew we caught lightning in a bottle.
You have also done voice over work on The Simpsons, Hotel Transylvania and this year’s Hotel Transylvania 2. Which do you prefer: on camera, voice over or stage?
I like the rhythm of doing sitcoms, the schedule, doing little plays in front of a small live audience but every week it’s a different play. I also get to wear a lot of hats when I do that which I really haven’t had the opportunity to do in either of the other areas. I love to write, direct, produce and when I’m starring in my own television series more often than not I get to wear all of those hats as well!
What was it like making your recent Broadway debut?
Everything about it was wonderful including the close proximity the theater was to my apartment! I loved every aspect of it: the comradery, behind the scenes, on the stage – all of it was a superb experience! For that reason I extended it from a ten week commitment to six months. It was absolutely sublime and something I would absolutely do again in a heartbeat!
Why start your Cancer Schmancer Foundation?
It took me two years and eight doctors to get a proper diagnosis; I was very bitter and angry, felt betrayed by my body, betrayed by the medical community. I couldn’t wrap my mind around that this is what happened to me and I decided to write a book so what happened to me wouldn’t happen to other people. When Cancer Schmancer became a New York Times Best Seller I realized what happened to me happened to millions of Americans: the misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and for many, late stage cancer as a consequence so I began to speak publicly. I began to form ideas… Cancer on arrival, 95% survival…What we don’t know is killing us so we have to change what we don’t know to what we do know. We have to change our lifestyle because almost 95 percent of all cancer is environmentally stimulated. It turns out the home is the most toxic place we spend the most time in. I realized that the book was not the end, but rather just the beginning of what was to become a life mission. An organization had to be formed; I turned my pain into purpose. I got famous, I got cancer, I lived to talk about it so…I’m talking!
Why do you want women to attend your October 13th event?
I want to inform women about what they don’t know, the things your doctor won’t tell you, the tests that aren’t on the menu at the doctors’ office, the things we’re buying, eating and living all is contributing to our ill health. It’s not just cancer, it’s heart failure….we’re honoring Rosie O’Donnell because of the work she did in her hysterically funny yet empowering and informative standup comedy show [about her heart attack]for HBO. We are going to show parts of it and she’s receiving her award in person and will speak. More women die of heart failure than all cancers combined; we just don’t recognize the symptoms… a headache, nausea, the sweats…it could be a million things in a woman. It’s not as it appears on TV which is usually showing male heart failure symptoms. We want to broaden the spectrum on helping people help themselves to stay well. Let’s look at what’s causing our ill health and eliminate it…how’s that for a cure? And I’m so very grateful to our sponsors Yes! by Finishing Touch lady shavers, Maltese Footwear and the Hadassah Women’s Zionist Organization. Without them we wouldn’t be able to do this and I hope to do more of these across the nation.
Your efforts in Washington DC helped get unanimous passage for H.R. 1245, Johanna’s Law.
It offers women and doctors early warning information for gynecological cancers and the tests that are available through pamphlets, magazines and ad campaigns. I managed to get all 100 senators to say, “Yes, Fran” which is a feat unto itself. It factors out to be a nickel each taxpayer pays to keep the public educated.
How did you become an ordained minister?
You fill out a form online and they send you back your license so it’s actually pretty simple! I am a gay civil liberties activist; it is one of the platforms I speak on behalf of. I had the privilege to be one of the first to ordain same-sex marriages in the state of New York.
What do you do for fun?
I’m a fine art collector and I love going to art museums. I love entertaining, my home, cooking, being with family and friends, hiking, long distance walking, going to the movies and the theater; I’m a cultural-holic. I’m a spiritualist, love growing and believe that this life is the journey of my soul’s self-refinement. I’m always trying to learn and improve myself.
What’s next for you?
I have work to do in Washington DC and New York and I think I’m going to start writing a new television series!
Cancer Schmancer Women’s Health Summit is Tuesday, October 13th, 9am-4pm, at Skirball Cultural Center located at 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles. Tickets are $150 for admission with lunch; $500 VIP ticket for premium reserved seating, lunch with Fran and a Detox Your Home DVD. Visit CancerSchmancer.org/whs to purchase tickets. Find out more about Fran Drescher at Facebook.com/Drescher and Twitter.com/FranDrescher to follow her Tweets.
Denise Ames is a celebrity columnist who has contributed to Entertainment Today, All Access magazine and CNN HLN Local Edition. She has also hosted TV’s “Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames” and “The Rustam Report.”