Jane Leeves Reveals Cynthia Nixon Nearly Landed 'Frasier' Role

Jane Leeves, who portrayed Daphne Moon in the hit sitcom "Frasier," has revealed that Cynthia Nixon was a close contender for the role.

Leeves recounted the audition process on Valerie Bertinelli's "Still Hot in Cleveland" podcast. Her agent initially informed her of interest in a "Cheers" spin-off, a show Leeves greatly admired. "Well, I'm not taking these two shows. I want to read for that," she recalled saying.

Upon arriving for her audition, Leeves discovered Nixon was already in the room reading for the part. "My agent said to me, ‘There’s some interest in you for this spin-off from Cheers,’" Leeves said. "And I loved ‘Cheers,’ so I was like, ‘Well, I’m not taking these two shows. I want to read for that."

Producers then asked Leeves to return the following day to read with lead actor Kelsey Grammer. "And I was like, ‘Oh, let me check my calendar,'" Leeves quipped.

Describing the next day's audition, Leeves recalled Grammer arriving in a red Corvette. "I [was like], ‘Oh my god, It’s Kelsey Grammer,’” she said, noting he wore flip-flops and did not resemble his character, Frasier Crane.

Grammer, Leeves explained, had a specific vision for the role of Daphne and expressed a preference against an "English girl" to avoid a "Nanny and the Professor" dynamic. After they read a scene together, Grammer reportedly had Leeves wait outside while he rejoined the producers. Shortly after, Grammer departed in his Corvette, and Leeves was called back in and offered the part.

"It was extraordinary," Leeves stated.

Leeves played the eccentric physical therapist and later housekeeper Daphne for all 11 seasons of "Frasier," which aired from 1993 to 2004. She did not participate in the "Frasier" revival that ran for two seasons on Paramount+ from 2023 to 2024.

Cynthia Nixon ultimately secured the role of Miranda Hobbes, a lawyer, in "Sex and the City." She starred alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Kim Cattrall in the series, which ran from 1998 to 2004. Nixon, along with Parker and Davis, reprised their roles in the sequel series "And Just Like That."