The Nanny’s Fran Drescher has revealed the cheeky gag she did on stage in front of the late royal which left her ‘laughing and patting her knee’.
Many celebrities starred in the hit sitcom The Nanny, but there was one legendary star who managed to surprise Fran Drescher.
The actress, who played Fran Fine on the iconic series from 1993 to 1999, welcomed many stars to the set, but there was one, in particular, who made a lasting impression.
“Everyone was always really nice,” the 64-year-old said FoxNews. “But Elizabeth Taylor was really warm, very generous. She sat on the couch on set and anyone who wanted to stand behind her and take a picture with her could. And the set photographer did that for the actors and the team, she was very welcoming to everyone.
“But the funny thing is, if you wanted a photo, you had to pay for editing,” laughed Drescher. “Renee Taylor, who played nanny mom Sylvia Fine on the show, said, ‘I’ll pay for this, but make sure you give me whatever Liz gets!'”
Drescher also had fond memories of Rocketman.
“It took us a long time to get Elton John, but we finally got him,” Drescher said. “We were told he liked red roses in his dressing room, so we filled his dressing room with red roses. It was just covered. He was really flattered. And it was a wonderful episode. to have one of these stars on the show.
“And it was a lot of fun coming up with ideas because we could write whatever we wanted. [The character] Mr. Sheffield was in show business, so it made perfect sense that we would come up with names. And it was easy to do. We could invent whatever we wanted. This was never the common thread of the story. These stars were always throwing something that complicated things for Fran, and she was always in trouble with Mr. Sheffield.
After leading a successful career spanning decades, Drescher was honored this week at the Hollywood Museum alongside Michael Feinstein and Geri Jewell from The facts of life fame at the launch of the “Real to Reel” exhibit in partnership with Board Member Mitch O’Farrell.
The exhibit, which celebrates LGBTQ Heritage Month, aims to “tell the story of the milestones and influence that LBGTQ characters and storylines have had in Hollywood, from early stereotypes to modern depictions.”
Drescher said she was grateful for the recognition as well as her many accomplishments along the way, including meeting Princess Diana.
“We were both at the CFDA Awards in New York, and I was a presenter,” Drescher recalled. “At the time, Mr Blackwell had a best-dressed and worst-dressed list. She was on the best dressed list and I was on the worst dressed list. I remember she was standing in the middle of that cocktail party and there were probably 100 people crammed into that room alone.
“She had a woman next to her who knew every person in the room. Well, I made a straight line for her because there was no way I was going to be intimidated. I was going to cut through the crowd and hit him because it was probably my only chance. And, like the nanny, I’ve always been a carpe diem girl. Seize the day.”
“I apologized and forgave throughout,” Drescher continued. “When I finally reached the center of the room, the woman next to her said, ‘This is Fran Drescher. She’s on a very popular show right now. Very funny actress.’ I shook her hand and said, “When the history books are written, you’ll be the heroine of the story. She looked at me – I could still see her looking at me right now – then she said, “Oh, thank you. That’s such a nice thing to say. And I meant every word.”
But Drescher was not done impressing the Princess of Wales. When she took the stage, the star made sure to share a joke she had been working on just for her.
“I said, ‘I met Princess Diana backstage and I said, ‘Princess, we’re both on Mr. Blackwell’s list,'” Drescher said. said, ‘Yes, but I was on the best-dressed list and you were on the worst. And I said, ‘Yes, but you have Princess Margaret on your list. I have Madonna and Demi [Moore] in mine. You’re on the wrong list princess!’
“I saw her sitting in the front row. Belly more. Laughing and hitting his knee, bouncing his foot. Laugh in a truly guttural and authentic way. I could see her now sitting in the front row wearing a blue dress with a beaded choker just laughing. She was so cheerful and not at all elitist. And she was surprised. She didn’t know I was going to say that. But I’m a comedy writer, and I knew audiences would eat this with a spoon. It’s a highlight of my career. »
Drescher said she felt blessed today. She endured a painful past, which included a horrific rape at gunpoint in 1985, being divorced from her husband of 21 years – Peter Marc Jacobson – who publicly came out as gay, as well as being diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2000 after two years of misdiagnosis by several doctors.
In 2007, the survivor started the Cancer Schmancer Movement, a non-profit organization that aims to educate people on how to identify and eliminate the causes of cancer and other illnesses from their daily routine. That same year, she helped convince Congress to pass the Gynecological Cancer Education and Awareness Act, which became law.
In January, Drescher was elected president of SAG-AFTRA, which represents approximately 160,000 performers and media professionals. She also wrote the foreword to a new picture book, “N is for The Nanny,” which references the ’90s show. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Cancer Schmancer movement.
“I think it’s important that I continue to push the idea that we all have to be the change we want in this world,” she said. “And I’m very proud of The Nanny. It is the gift that keeps on giving. And it has certainly stood the test of time.
“It honestly hasn’t aired in almost 30 years. So people keep rediscovering it. It got adopted on TikTok and it started airing on HBO Max. I think I’ve stayed very relevant. J I have a young audience, but I’m also fearless when it comes to talking about important things.
“I came out the other side – for the better,” she added. “You must play the hand dealt to you with grace, elegance and courage. I have been very lucky and blessed in my life. I started with very humble beginnings. My dad worked two jobs when I was very young. It was an incredible race with very low depressions… but I learned very important life lessons that carry me. I am very lucky.”
This article originally appeared in FoxNews and has been reproduced with permission.
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