The Nanny cast posing together in front of grey background
Led by Fran Drescher’s Fran Fine, The Nanny cast is composed of veteran actors from both television and film. The classic ’90s sitcom The Nanny aired for six seasons and over 140 episodes on CBS between 1993 and 1999. It was the show that made star Fran Drescher a household name. Co-created with her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, The Nanny was partly inspired by a trip Drescher took to London to visit her former Princesses co-star Twiggy. After spending a lot of time with the British model-actress’ kids, Drescher got the idea for a show riffing on The Sound Of Music but with her as a nanny instead of some Julie Andrews type.
And so The Nanny was born, with Drescher starring as Fran – the loud-mouthed nanny to the three children of a stuffy British widower and Broadway producer living in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It was a role that scored Drescher two Golden Globe nominations while The Nanny ranked as one of the most-watched sitcoms of its time. Today, The Nanny is still considered one of the best sitcoms from the ’90s. Here’s a recap of The Nanny cast, the characters they played, and where else viewers might’ve seen them.
Fran Drescher as Fran Fine
Fran Drescher as Fran Fine The Nanny
Fran Drescher played Fran Fine who, after being dumped by her boyfriend and boss, stumbles into a job as nanny to three kids. An outgoing, working-class Jewish woman with a heart of gold and a heavy Queens accent, Fran is the polar opposite of her new employer Maxwell but soon becomes an indispensable part of the family. Much of the show also centers around the will-they-won’t-they romantic vibe between Fran and Maxwell. The writer, creator, and star of The Nanny cast, Fran Drescher also appears in Indebted, Happily Divorced, and Gravesend. Drescher has previously teased the potential of a modern The Nanny revival in the form of a movie, though the project hasn’t been set in stone.
Charles Shaughnessy as Maxwell Sheffield
Charles Shaughnessy as Maxwell Sheffield The Nanny
Stuffy British Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield is a widower whose busy schedule leads to him hire Fran to look after his three kids. In The Nanny cast, Maxwell plays the straight man to Fran’s over-the-top comedy. This raises the tension that lays the groundwork for the chemistry between Maxwell and Fran throughout the show’s six seasons. Maxwell is played by British actor Charles Shaughnessy, who is best known for his roles in Days Of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, The Magicians, and General Hospital.
Nicholle Tom as Maggie Sheffield
Nicholle Tom as Maggie Sheffield The Nanny
Nicholle Tom played Maxwell’s eldest child Margaret ‘Maggie’ Sheffield, an initially shy and awkward teen who came out of her shell under Fran’s guardianship. Maggie and Fran quickly develop a friendship, with Maggie seeing Fran more as an older sister. That said, Fran isn’t afraid of disciplining Maggie when she gets out of line. Apart from being part of The Nanny cast, Nicholle Tom is best known for her role as Ryce Newton in the first two Beethoven movies, and also appears in the movie Prisoner of Love and the series Walk The Prank.
Benjamin Salisbury as Brighton Sheffield
Benjamin Salisbury as Brighton Sheffield The Nanny
Mischievous middle child Brighton often felt left out as the only male sibling in the Sheffield brood, which caused a lot of squabbles with his sisters. While initially distrustful of Fran due to not liking his previous nannies, Brighton eventually warms up to Fran. Brighton is torn between becoming a Broadway producer, just like his father, or just waiting for his trust fund to kick in. Brighton was played by Benjamin Salisbury who largely left acting behind after The Nanny – bar bit roles on shows including Numb3rs or the short film On The Brink.
Madeline Zima as Grace Sheffield
Madeline Zima as Grace Sheffield The Nanny
Although Madeline Zima is best known for her roles on Californication and Heroes, it was The Nanny that gave the actress her first regular TV gig. She played Grace, the youngest of the Sheffield kids who forms a close bond with Fran. Among the Sheffield children, it is Grace who displays the most intelligence, as seen when she uses complex terms that confuse Fran and Maxwell. After this role in The Nanny cast, Madeline Zima went on to appear in Doom Patrol, Diary of a Spy, Hypochondriac, and Hacks.
