Fran Fine of ‘The Nanny’ Wasn’t a Perfect Stepmom, and It Made Her My Queen
the nanny – america’s moms podcastCBS via Getty Images
Growing up, I was obsessed with Fran Fine. I’d watch The Nanny on weeknights in elementary school, and it was the first sitcom that felt realistic to me. That was, in part, because Fran Fine hailed from my native Flushing, New York. This story truly felt as if it were unfolding in my backyard — and it had it all.
Mostly, it had laughs. I remember loving how the family had so much fun together, even when they weren’t meaning to. But really, the focus was always on Fran. Her fashion was everything a little girl with an affinity for animal prints could ever dream of. She had this romantic thing going with her boss, a tall, brooding millionaire from the “right” side of the tracks.
Then, of course, there was her relationship with the kids. Fran was a friend to the kids, even though she was the one in charge. She wasn’t afraid to mess up or be honest, a lot like the adults in my life as I was growing up.
Many fans forget that the last season sees the Sheffields through married life. As Maxwell’s wife, Fran faces new pressures. Boundaries were tested as she settled into stepparenting, something anyone who has experienced it themselves can attest to. Yet, she never changed from the honest, friendly, compassionate figure she’d always been in the kids’ lives.
I never knew then that Fran would influence the way I parent, but when I was asked who my favorite TV mom was for the America’s Moms podcast, Fran was one of the first who came to mind. The podcast celebrates all the moms we adored watching and the lessons we learned from them. Sure, “stepmom” isn’t the first thing that comes to many people’s minds when they think of Fran, but that’s kind of the point. She was a well-rounded person who loved her family and was dedicated to them, but still had a rich life that was all her own.
On the podcast, I got to chat with The Nanny co-creators Peter Marc Jacobson and Fran Drescher. They revealed the real-life incident with Fran and fashion icon Twiggy’s daughter that inspired the series, which captivated viewers around the globe.
The beauty of Fran is in what she didn’t know
Whatever Whateva GIF from Whatever GIFs
In talking to Peter and Fran, I learned that Fran being a parent wasn’t on the show’s radar when the series began. As a caretaker, she was teaching the kids and learning as she went. In many instances, she was honest in an age-appropriate way that acknowledged kids as people and not parental trophies. That’s something that’s always been important to me in my journey as a stepparent. Kids aren’t their accomplishments, talents, or anything else. They’re whole people who need help figuring out how the world works and what to expect. As a part of that, it’s OK for them to understand that adults don’t have it all figured out, either. We’re perfectly imperfect and all doing our best, every day.
When Fran pivots to stepparenting, she doesn’t always crush it
When Fran does become a stepmom to the children she once nannied, the transition isn’t easy. But that’s a reality many stepmoms have experienced. I also spoke with Beth McDonough of The Inclusive Stepmom about the common struggles facing stepmoms.
Aside from navigating her new relationship with the kids, Fran also has to navigate everyone’s expectations for her future. She and Maxwell do end up having children of their own, but the road there is paved with well-meaning opinions from loved ones, and it isn’t easy. As a stepmom with no biological kids, I’m familiar with the journey. Beth had some really solid advice for navigating the peaks and pits of stepparenting, even when it feels as if the cards are stacked against you.
Through all the ups and downs, Fran has moments of triumph and instances when she doesn’t get it right. Regardless of what happened, she’s always got everyone’s best interests at heart. She isn’t afraid to own up to her shortcomings, whether it’s Maxwell pointing them out or one of the kids. She also isn’t afraid to be her own person apart from her role in her family. Exploring her character and speaking to Fran herself was beyond amazing, and I can’t wait for you to listen!
