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Fran Drescher was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, Sept. 30
In speeches celebrating Drescher’s career, Jacobson, Zima, Tom and Lisa Ann Walters shared their love and admiration for the actress
The actress, 68, posed for photos with speakers and loved ones
The flashy girl from Flushing was surrounded by her TV family on one of her most special days.
Fran Drescher‘s loved ones were cheering her on as the actress was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, including some of her costars from The Nanny.
The ceremony, held on Tues, Sept. 30, was originally slated to feature Renée Taylor as one of the speakers honoring Drescher. Taylor played Sylvia Fine, the pushy but lovable mom to Fran on the sitcom, which aired from 1993 to 1999.
While the 92-year-old actress did not appear, the cast was well represented with Nicholle Tom, who played Margaret ‘Maggie’ Sheffield and Madeline Zima, who played Gracie Sheffield, stepped in to honor Drescher on the special day, which is also the actress’ 68th birthday.
Tom — who recently met up with Drescher at a play she starred in, portraying Taylor — praised the actress for being “loud, strong, confident, colorful and kind.”
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Amy Sussman/Getty
Fran Drescher gets her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on her birthday
Tom, 47, continued, “She was always honest with me. She mentored me through my childhood — I mean, my major growing up years, from 14 to 21.”
“Fran, I love you. I’ve always looked up to you, even though I had to wear flats. You’re my mentor and I just love you. Congratulations!” she concluded.
Speaking next, Zima greeted Drescher and wished her a happy birthday, then launching into a heartfelt tribute.
“Fran Drescher is not just a household name — she is the household. She’s the glamorous aunt, the no-nonsense mom, the best friend who tells you when your outfit needs a little more leopard print, and the neighbor whose laugh you can hear through the drywall.”
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Madeline Zima and Nicholle Tom
“When The Nanny first hit our screens in the ’90s, she didn’t just change television; she redecorated it. Suddenly, the working class Jewish women from Queens, they weren’t side characters anymore. They were the stars. They were smart. They were sexy. They were hilarious — and they wore Bob Mackie,” she shared.
Zima credited the actress for all her work inside and outside of the industry, concluding, “Today, we honor Fran for all she’s given us — the laughs, the glamour, the advocacy, the heart and the very real reminder that being loud, being proud and being yourself is the most powerful thing that you can be.”
Ahead of the ceremony, Drescher told PEOPLE how grateful she was for everyone showing up for her, especially
“I’m a man’s woman, but I’m also a woman’s woman. I really love my sisters. And each one of them, I have such high regard for. I feel very honored and blessed that they’re willing to show up and talk about me,” she shared.
Amy Sussman/Getty
Fran Drescher poses with her star
The Nanny, which ran from 1993 to 1999, was created by Drescher and Jacobson. Drescher played Fran Fine, a former bridal store worker in Flushing, Queens, who ends up working as a nanny for a rich Manhattan family after her boyfriend dumps her.
Drescher was also honored by costar Charles Shaughnessy. While her onscreen husband had professional commitments that kept him from the ceremony, he shared three Instagram posts celebrating his personal and professional relationships with Fran.
“‘Taking care’ is a theme in Fran’s life and career and, probably the biggest reason that we are here today. No sooner had The Nanny wrapped for good but she turned her attention to women’s health and started Cancer Schmancer to advocate for and actually provide early detection of gynecological cancers,” he began.
“This is something else Fran does, seemingly instinctively, when life delivers her a blow – as it does, and it has! She first takes care of the issue and gets herself back upright, as best as she can, but then she immediately looks around to see how she can turn this ‘setback’ into an opportunity to make a point, advocate a cause or help others who find themselves in the same predicament but who might not have the same access to a level of care and attention. Perhaps that is her greatest super-power.”
He continued, “She was my boss for six wonderful years but I am more than grateful and privileged to have been able to call her my friend for many more than that! Congratulations, Fran. Today is your day: enjoy it. You deserve it and so much more….💕💕💕💕.”
Read the original article on People