Sometimes Hollywood gets it just right.
For years, fans have celebrated Fran Drescher, 68, as a television icon, fashion trailblazer, and inspiring survivor, known for her unmistakable voice and impeccable comedic timing. Now, the industry is officially catching up, and a recent announcement from the star herself has cheers erupting from everyone who grew up loving and laughing with the nanny named Fran.
On Tuesday, Drescher took to Instagram to celebrate her birthday and share her joy with friends and followers. In a celebratory post, she revealed that she was marking her special day with two epic career achievements.
The post, which featured a birthday video from Laura Geller Beauty, which boasts Drescher as a brand ambassador, shared iconic pictures of the actress over the years along with text about her many accomplishments on and off-screen. “Whatta day for da franny!” Drescher wrote in the accompanying comment. “Getting my Hollywood Walk of Fame STAR & have the opening of the Fran Drescher Retrospective at The Hollywood Museum too!”
Almost immediately, the comment section was flooded with thousands of congratulatory messages. Fans from all over the world chimed in to share their excitement for the star’s well-deserved honors.
“Happy Birthday Fran! And Congratulations on getting your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!” wrote one enthusiastic user.
“Much deserved, long overdue!” Another fan commented. “Congratulations, Ms Drescher!!! An American icon and a hero to many ❤️💞🥰”
Many comments touched on her inspirational journey and lasting impact, with one follower writing, “Happy Birthday Queen of Queens❤️Fran, I wish you all the best, especially good health! Thank you for bringing so much joy and wisdom into our lives💖You are such a strong and beautiful woman and a great inspiration to me!!!! And congratulations on your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame⭐️🥳🙌”
It is a sentiment shared by millions who have followed her career from her sitcom days to her powerful advocacy work.
For countless fans, Fran Drescher is, and always will be, the one and only Fran Fine from the hit ‘90s sitcom The Nanny. For six seasons, she played the hilarious and stylish salesgirl from Flushing, Queens who accidentally becomes a nanny for a wealthy Broadway producer and his three emotionally stifled children. The show remains a cultural touchstone, thanks to its witty humor, Drescher’s incredible fashion in her leading role, and the undeniable chemistry of its cast.
In a 2021 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Drescher reflected on what made the series so special, “[The series was] an anomaly unto itself. It’s laugh-out-loud funny. The sexual tension is off the scale. It’s a Cinderella fantasy. The clothes are just like a beautiful, incredible fashion show every single week.”
More than 25 years after its finale, the show has found a new audience on streaming, proving its timeless appeal. As Drescher herself said in the same 2021 interview, “It’s become a classic, and classics don’t get old.”
While The Nanny made her a household name, Drescher’s off-screen life and resilience have made her an icon. She has spoken openly about surviving a violent home invasion in 1985 and being diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2000. Rather than hide from these traumas, she turned her pain into purpose, founding the Cancer Schmancer Movement to advocate for early detection and healthcare reform.
Her advocacy even took her to Washington, D.C., where she was instrumental in the unanimous passing of the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act.
“I almost feel like I got famous, I got cancer, and I lived to talk about it,” Drescher wrote in a powerful essay for InStylein 2019. “So I’m talking.”
It is this philosophy of finding strength in vulnerability that has defined her second act. She encourages others to face life’s challenges head-on, saying, “You’ve got to try to make sense out of the senseless and open yourself up to a path you never would’ve otherwise taken.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.