Fran Drescher
Francine Joy Drescher (born September 30, 1957) is an American actress, comedian, writer and activist. She is best known for her role as Fran Fine in the hit TV series "The Nanny" (1993–99), and for her nasal voice and thick New York accent.
The Beautician and the Beast
Fran Drescher pitched and sold the concept and title for "The Beautician and the Beast". She was an executive producer for the film, which was handled through her company High School Sweethearts. The original title was "The King and Oy", a reference to the musical "The King and I". Joy was Drescher's first starring role in a feature film, though her first movie appearance was in the 1977 drama "Saturday Night Fever". Drescher chose to play a character similar to her earlier roles to encourage audiences to accept her transition to film. She modeled her transition from television to movies on the careers of John Travolta and Michael J. Fox. Director Ken Kwapis explained: "She has had to overcome a lot of skepticism about her voice, her abilities, the specificity of her comedy."