She's Got Style, She's Got Flair, and She Cares

Logo from THE NANNY

I first remember seeing Fran Drescher in Saturday Night Fever, where she asked John Travolta “Are you as good in bed as you are on the dance floor?"  Later, she was a stand-out in two of my favorite comedies from the '80s, Doctor Detroit and This is Spinal Tap.  Most of America simply knows her as the Todd Oldham-clad "Fran Fine" in her signature role on The Nanny. Yesterday, Drescher was the keynote speaker at Wynn Las Vegas at the annual Women’s Philanthropy United Luncheon benefiting the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, taking the stage after a fun fashion-show and lunch.

Fran Drescher flashes her VC&A bling at Wynn Las Vegas

Wearing the double-hats of actress and activist (not to mention a half-million dollars worth of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry from their boutique at The Palazzo), Drescher addressed more than 300 Las Vegas women on topics including her Jewish upbringing and how she parlayed it into her hit series The Nanny (for which she was nominated for two Emmys and two Golden Globes). 

Cover of CANCER SCHMANCER

She also spoke of her bout with cancer and how that led to her book Cancer Schmancer and the ensuing Cancer Schmancer Movement that she started on June 21, 2007 (the seventh anniversary of her operation).  Said Drescher, “We need to take control of our bodies, become greater partners with our physicians and galvanize as one to let our legislators know that the collective female vote is louder and more powerful than that of the richest corporate lobbyists.”

Fran Drescher has received numerous awards and accolades, including the John Wayne Institute’s Woman of Achievement Award, the Gilda Award, the City of Hope Woman of the Year Award, the Hebrew University Humanitarian Award, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Spirit of Achievement Award, and most recently, the City of Hope Spirit of Life Award, which was presented to her by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Last summer, she attended the annual Life Ball (Europe’s biggest AIDS fund-raising event) in Vienna, alongside Bill Clinton, Patricia Field, The Blondes, Richie Rich, The Ones (Paul Alexander, Jojo Americo and Nashom Wooden), Armen Ra, Amanda Lepore, Empress ChiChi Valenti, DJ Johnny Dynell, Eva Longoria Parker, Katy Perry (who sang during the opening ceremonies), Ivana Trump, and Amber Valletta, helping to raise more than $1.5 million for organizations including the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 

Fran Drescher by Adam Buska for NoH8

More recently, she has modeled for the NoH8 campaign as one of the 2,000 (and growing) politicians, newlyweds, law enforcers, celebrities, artists, musicians, and everyday people being photographed (by celebrity photographer Adam Buska) with duct tape over their mouths, and “NOH8” painted on one cheek, symbolizing how their voices have been silenced by California’s Proposition 8, and similar legislations around the US and the world.  Others who have struck a pose for the NoH8 campaign include Cindy McCain, Meghan McCain, Bryan Singer, Marlee Matlin, Jane Lynch, Leslie Jordan, Candis Cayne, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Shannon Elizabeth, Hal Sparks, Kelly Hu, Kristen Cavallari, Alec Mapa, Christopher Gorham, Michael Emerson, Damien Fahey, Brooke Hogan, Mark Hoppus, Lance Bass, Andy Dick, Pete Wentz & Ashlee Simpson, Rose McGowan, The Kardashian Sisters, Kathy Griffin, Jack Mackenroth, John Duran, Brian Friedman, Holly Madison & Bridgit Marquandt, Steve-O, Tara Reid, Calpernia Addams, Aubrey O’Day, Margaret Cho     & Selene Luna, Giuliana Rancic, Emmy Rossum, Caroline Rhea, Debi Mazar, Deepak Chopra, Tatyana Ali, Camryn Manheim, Adam Corolla, Lucas Grabeel, Ana Ortiz,  Lisa Ling, Tony Plana, Gloria Allred, Scott Ian, Dr. Drew, Hoobastank, and (coming soon...) me!  Hey, as the jingle on The Nanny said of Fran, “She had style, she had flair, she was there...”  Really, what more can one hope for from an activist?

And PS - in case you were wondering, that is her real voice.