In a new interview with Variety, 'The Nanny's Fran Drescher speaks about reprising her role as the wicked stepmother in CINDERELLA at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theater. The actress made her Broadway debut in the role last year.
Speaking on the differences between preparing for a stage role and a role for TV or film, Drescher offers, "The difference is you're really flying without a net. There's no take two. If you screw up or miss a line or say the wrong line, somehow you have to navigate your way back to get back in to where you're supposed to be. Things go wrong all the time for you, for other people. It's live! Therein lies the rub." She continues, "Theater is almost like zen meditation. You must be very focused on what you're doing, because if you start thinking about something else, you're going to go up on the lines, and you can't do that. When you meditate, the whole objective is to bring your focus to one point, to be single-minded. I'm a gun for hire, and I try to do my job as best as I can."
Asked about what's ahead for her in the near future the actress revealed, "I'm in development on two projects. One is a feature that I will direct, and that's been on my bucket list. One is a Broadway musical that I would be a writer and producer on. Neither of which I'm ready to pitch."
She adds, "For the first time in my life, I'm relaxed and comfortable accepting that I made it, I'm here, and I can relax a little bit. I don't have to work so hard all the time. I can step off that hamster wheel now and again and enjoy my life that I've been so blessed with having. That's relatively new for me, quite frankly."
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Fran Drescher received two Emmy Award and two Golden Globe nominations for the
CBS comedy series, The Nanny, which she also created, wrote, directed and executive produced. She most recently starred in TV Land's sitcom "Happily Divorced" as Fran, a Los Angeles florist whose 18-year marriage ends after her husband announces he's gay, yet they continue to live together under the same roof.
Ms. Drescher's numerous film credits include "This is Spinal Tap," (for which she won Esquire Magazine's 'Five Minute Oscar'); "The Beautician and the Beast," which she also executive produced; and countless films with the likes of Robin Williams and Tim Robbins ("The Cadillac Man"), Dan Aykroyd and Billy Crystal, and with such esteemed directors as Rob Reiner, Milos Forman("Ragtime") and Francis Ford Coppola.
A native of New York City, she is no stranger to the stage, having made her debut in The Pasadena Playhouse world premiere of Ronald Ribman's Rug Merchants of Chaos and Off-Broadway in Neil LaBute's Some Girl(s), The Exonerated and Nora Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore. She also performed in a special production of Camelot at Lincoln Center.
Ms. Drescher is the author of two books - ENTER WHINING and CANCER SCHMANCER - both New York Times best sellers. Earlier this year, she
CELEBRATED 13 years of wellness as a uterine cancer survivor. A leading health advocate, she was instrumental in getting the nation's first Gynecologic Cancer and Education and Awareness Act passed, and has been appointed as Special Envoy for Women's Health Issues by the U.S. State Department. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including the John Wayne Institute Woman of Achievement Award, the Gilda Award and the Albert Einstein Ccollege of Medicines Spirit of Achievement Award.
Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg
