Francine Joy Drescher (born in Flushing, Queens, New York City on September 30, 1957) is an American film and television actress. She is famous for her nasally voice, “machine-gun” laugh and Queens Accent.
After years of small roles in films and TV shows, this brunette comic actress gained fame as a Mary Poppins from Queens in what has become her signature role, Fran Fine, “The Nanny” (CBS, 1993-99). With her husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, Dresher co-created and executive produced the sitcom which was basically a study of contrasts with most of the show’s humor arising from the juxtaposition of the middle-class Jewish nanny in the refined world of the British-born, upper-class theater producer (Charles Shaughnessy). For her work, the actress was twice nominated for an Emmy as Best Actress in a Comedy Series (in 1996 and 1997).
