LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Fran Drescher, the leader of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), has emerged as a prominent figure in the Hollywood fight for higher pay during a historic period of industrial action. In a passionate rallying speech on July 13, she took center stage in leading the industry's first mass walkout since the 1980s. The protest also includes demands for protections against job threats posed by artificial intelligence, as actors express concerns about their job security. All said and done while Drescher is making demands from studio executives, not all are happy with their approach to the whole situation, especially since a strike can make a lot of things go haywire. Everything from production schedules, promotions, and billions of dollars worth of business tied to the entertainment industry... a lot of Hollywood's ecosystem stands to be affected.
Drescher's own illustrious career has encompassed decades of work in cinema, television, and Broadway. However, she is perhaps most renowned for her role in the popular '90s sitcom 'The Nanny,' which she co-created with her husband at the time, Peter Marc Jacobson, who has since come out as openly gay. Through her leadership and advocacy, Drescher continues to be a strong voice for the rights and interests of actors in the industry.
What is Fran Drescher's net worth?
Drescher, the Queens-born actress, became one of the highest-paid actresses in TV during the final season of the popular sitcom ‘The Nanny,' reportedly earning $1.5 million per episode. Her impressive net worth is estimated to be between $25 million and $30 million. Drescher moved to Malibu from the East Coast, seeking a fresh start in the late '90s after her separation from Jacobson and eventual divorce, from Jacobson, and has remained in the same three-bedroom with sprawling ocean-view terrace ever since. The home which sold for $1.2 million in 1997 is now worth roughly $6 million, according to a valuation by real estate site Zillow.
Beyond her successful acting career, Drescher is known for her firebrand anti-capitalist views and her resilience in overcoming significant challenges in her earlier life. She endured harrowing experiences, including being raped at gunpoint and battling womb cancer.
'We demand respect! You cannot exist without us'
On the afternoon of July 13, Drescher made a bold announcement about the strike. In her powerful statement, she declared, "We demand respect! You cannot exist without us!" The message was clear and forceful, asserting the importance of actors and their essential role in the industry. The strike aimed to bring attention to the value of performers and their contributions to the entertainment world, as well as the need for fair treatment and recognition.
'They'll cave in unfortunately. Bills need to be paid'
While Drescher is slamming millionaire studio executives for pocketing huge pays, some on the Internet are clearly dissatisfied with her approach. The actors' strike is expected to affect numerous workers associated with the film industry apart from the actors themselves. One social media user referred to her political leanings and criticized her saying: "Fran Drescher is fine with Biden giving $100 billion from the taxpayer to Ukraine for a war that has nothing to do with the United States. Drescher has lost her right to criticize how anyone spends their money." Another posted a meme which read: " Well, well, well. Looks like Hollywood is going on strike. Can't say I'm surprised. Maybe they should take break from their multi-million dollar mansions and private jets to remember what real workers go through." One said, "Fran: Her net worth is estimated to be $25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth No sympathy." Speaking of how it could affect livelihoods, one social media user shared, "I get it, but this could put another nail in the coffin for movie theatres the longer this lasts. Hope resolution can come soon." Another slammed the strike, saying it would fold soon: "Fran Drescher is irrelevant. Theyll cave in unfortunately. Bills need to be paid."