Part of the show's success and originality stems from the fact that (along with Rhoda) it is one of the only successful American comedies with an explicitly Jewish main character. Many of the chracters in the series (e.g. Yetta, her mother) were named after Fran Drescher's real family.
Drescher's first role in a major motion picture was a bit part in Saturday Night Fever. She also had a role in the movie This Is Spinal Tap as Bobbie Fleckman.
Drescher was born and raised in Queens, New York. She attended high school with actor Ray Romano.