Fran Drescher discusses keeping 'The Nanny' character Jewish

• Published date: 08 October 2021
• Author: JERUSALEM POST STAFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The Nanny is an American sitcom from the '90s which follows a Jewish nanny played by Drescher.

After landing the role, Drescher was told that Fran, who was originally written as Jewish, would become an Italian character, but Drescher fought to keep her as she was. When asked why by the podcast's host, Jay Ruderman, Drescher explained that the character was always meant to be Jewish because she was written especially for Drescher.

cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); });

>

"And then CBS called when we were writing the pilot script and said that they have an opportunity to pre-sell the entire series," said Drescher. "The only thing is they want the character to be Italian, not Jewish."

She then explained that she was scared that if the character was changed, the show might fail. "If I didn't stand firm on how this character must be written and the show failed, I would have a very difficult time living with the fact that I didn't do it my way."

Drescher also explained that she wanted Fran to authentically represent her real-life identity.

"I really dug my heels in and said, 'I'm sorry, but the character of Fran Fine must be Jewish,'" she told Ruderman.

Drescher was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists...