What's Up, Fran Drescher? The Love, Loss Star on Cancer, Politics and Avatar

The flashy girl from Flushing, known everywhere as the Nanny named Fran, has returned to off-Broadway. Fran Drescher made a name for herself with her uber-popular '90s sitcom The Nanny and has since become politically active. In addition to heading her non-profit organization Cancer Shmancer, the actress was appointed as a U.S. diplomat in 2008 and travels the world to raise awareness about women’s health issues. Now Drescher has returned to off-Broadway (where she appeared in The Exonerated and Neil LaBute’s Some Girl(s) to join the rotating cast of the hit show Love, Loss and What I Wore. We chatted with the star about being a cancer survivor, her "audition" for Avatar and that voice.

I was just watching your audition for the movie Avatar. It’s amazing! How did that come about?
Fran-atar! The guy who produced it used to work on The Nanny and now he works for that company Take 180, and so he asked me if I would do it. I thought it was so fun and I was totally down with it. You know, all these people who worked on The Nanny that I gave breaks to are now moving up in the world. I’m happy to stay in touch with them because the day may come when I call them and say, “I need a job!”

How is Love, Loss and What I Wore going?
Really well. I’m so happy to be working with [writers] Nora and Delia [Ephron] and this cast, and I’m enjoying the director, Karen Carpenter. It’s a nice group of lovely women.

Did your friend Rosie O’Donnell, who was in the original cast of the show, get you involved with this play?
No, I think they were just aware of me. With a rotating cast like this, they’re gonna hit everybody up to do it. I mean I’m glad they called me, but I just think they’re going through the alphabet.

This show is all about clothing and memories. Do you have a clothing-related memory that might fit into this format?
Yes, I started to think about what I was wearing on the day I found out I had cancer. I was getting ready to work out with my Pilates instructor. I was wearing my Adidas track pants and feeling like my body was really coming together and looking good and really thrilled that I had found an exercise I liked. I was in this phase where I wanted the T-shirts I wore to say something meaningful and thought-provoking. The one I was wearing said, “If you think education is expensive, think how much ignorance costs us.” It’s really ironic to think about now. I got this call after two years and eight doctors were in search of a diagnosis—and I was ultimately diagnosed with uterine cancer. I got into stirrups more times than Roy Rogers. Finally finding out was obviously very significant, as it would be for anyone.

And now you’ve become an incredible health advocate with Cancer Shmancer. Beyond being a survivor, that day really changed your life.
Yes. That’s a silver lining from it all. I’m active and outspoken. It’s very satisfying and gives a great deal of purpose and resonance to my life. Sometimes the best gifts come in the ugliest packages. I’m not glad I had cancer, but I am better for it.

You considered running for office in 2008. Are you still interested in doing that?
I am, but I think that that’s going to maybe be a little further up the road. I want to explore some more television, especially if I can get something on the air that will afford me an opportunity to talk about the issues I’m passionate about. It would be a way for me not to be bogged down with adversaries in Washington or in constant need of raising funds. But in the long run, I definitely can see running for office in my future. I would relish the opportunity.

On a far less serious note, you always look so put-together. Do you ever wake up with clothing-related anxiety?
I’ll admit it: it’s easier to pick out what you’re wearing when you’re thin than when you’re up in weight and half your wardrobe doesn’t fit anymore. I love it when I’m on the thin side because then everything fits, and that’s not always the case. It’s kind of a battle to keep the weight down, and I like drinking wine and that doesn’t [help]. When you get a little comfortable in your relationship—he likes going to restaurants, he likes wine—it ends up taking its toll a little bit. I try not to worry too much. Exercise and eating well is key.

Your voice, of course, is your trademark. What is your favorite description of it that you’ve heard?
That it’s like a foghorn. That one made a big impression on me.