Fran Drescher is a fan of ‘sleep divorce’ — why you should be too

The Nanny is laying down the law — it’s time for a sleep divorce.

Fran Drescher, 68, is the latest star to embrace the growing trend of couples sleeping in separate rooms, declaring that she doesn’t want “someone sleeping in my bed full-time ever again.”

“It’s not that I don’t like being intimate with a man, but for me, ‘You come, you go!’ Literally,” the sitcom legend told People. “It’s my time to relax and find my peace.”

She’s not alone. Nearly one-third of Americans sleep separately from their partner, according to a 2025 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Among millennials, that number jumps to almost 40%.

“As clinicians, we’ve seen our patients and their spouses become more intentional about their sleep environment as they try to improve their sleep health,” Dr. Seema Khosla, a pulmonologist and AASM spokesperson, said in a statement.

Because let’s face it — it’s tough to get your eight hours of beauty sleep when your partner is snoring like a chainsaw or hogging the covers at 3 a.m.

And most Americans aren’t even getting close. A 2024 Gallup poll found just 26% of people get the recommended amount of shut-eye, while over half said they’d feel better with more rest.

By choosing to sleep separately, people can customize their sleep setup without having to accommodate their partner’s preferences.

“When couples sleep in separate rooms, they’re able to control the temperature and environment of their own sleeping area, which can lead to greater overall comfort while getting a good night’s rest,” Dr. Rana Ali, a sleep medicine specialist, said on behalf of Hackensack Meridian Health. 

Sleeping apart also reduces the number of disruptions that can jolt you or your partner awake.

“I don’t want to worry I’m disturbing another person,” said Drescher, who recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I want to be able to put the TV or the light on whenever I want.”

Getting uninterrupted sleep is essential, Ali explained, because it allows our bodies to rest and recharge, giving us the energy and focus needed to power through the day.

Losing even as little as 1.5 hours of sleep at night can affect how you feel, leading to short-term problems such as lack of alertness, brain fog, moodiness and difficulty engaging in everyday activities.

Over time, the consequences only grow worse.

“During periods of sleeplessness, hidden health hazards accumulate that can’t be covered up with concealer or reversed with caffeine,” Dr. Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, a sleep medicine specialist, said on behalf of the Cleveland Clinic. 

“Everything from your cardiovascular system to your immune system feels the impact,” she continued.

Studies have found that people who regularly get less than seven hours of sleep are more vulnerable to illnesses like the common cold, as their bodies’ ability to fight infection and inflammation weakens.

Poor sleep has also been linked to a higher risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and even certain cancers.

“Mood disorders like depression and anxiety are also connected with chronic insomnia and sleep deprivation,” Foldvary-Schaefer said. 

And while the term “sleep divorce” might sound like there is trouble in paradise, Khosla said it can actually bring couples closer.

“When our sleep is compromised due to a disruptive partner, resentment can grow,” she explained. “Poor sleep also leads to diminished empathy, patience and understanding.”

Beyond just getting more sleep, some married couples report that sleeping apart has actually improved their sex lives.

“When a couple gets adequate amounts of uninterrupted restful sleep, it’s easier for them to feel connected emotionally as well as physically,” Ali said.

The key to a successful sleep divorce, Khosla said, is communication.

Each partner must clearly express their wants and needs, she explained, and the couple needs to be intentional about spending quality time together before retreating to separate beds.

“Rather than fostering a poor sleep environment for appearances, a thoughtful conversation with the bed partner can result in a stronger relationship, since each partner is achieving more restful sleep,” Khosla said.