10 Actors Who Would Be Perfect To Play Neil’s Sister

Throughout its three seasons, The Bear has introduced a number of unique characters, but none are as mysterious as Francie Fak, which means that the actress who plays her must live up to audiences’ high expectations. Within The Bear’s extensive cast, one branch of characters are the Faks. Originally, the Fak family was represented solely by Neil Fak, an eccentric family friend who helps do electrical and plumbing work at the restaurant. However, each season, more Faks have become known to viewers, which makes the urge to see the most mysterious Fak even stronger.

At this point, not much is really known about Francie Fak. Aside from being Neil’s sister, the biggest element of Francie’s character is that she has a major beef with Sugar. Audiences are still in the dark about what truly happened between Sugar and Francie, but based on Sugar’s absolute hatred of the Fak sister, it must have been something important that likely happened in their youth. In fact, it seems as though no one in The Bear truly enjoys Francie. In this way, she is bound to be a very interesting character, which means her casting is doubly important.

10 Vanessa Bayer

Comedian & SNL Star

An underrated actress that would undoubtedly make a great Francie is Vanessa Bayer. Bayer appeared on Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2017, and in that time, proved herself to be a hilarious and versatile actress. Apart from the iconic sketch show, she has also appeared in movies like Trainwreck and Office Christmas Party, and she also led her own comedy series called I Love That For You.

Some of the biggest reasons why Bayer would make a good Francie is that she’s funny, she’s a similar age as Abby Elliott, who plays Sugar, and she bears some resemblance to the Faks. In fact, Bayer appeared on SNL at the same time that Elliott did, giving them a strong connection already. Based on Bayers past works, it seems likely that she could embody a loud and annoying Francie. Yet, Bayer may not have quite enough star power to take on this highly anticipated role.

9 Alison Brie

Funny & Experienced

Another actress who may go under the radar as a strong Francie Fak candidate is Alison Brie. Over the course of her career, Brie has taken on a number of roles ranging from pure comedy to serious drama. She rose to stardom after appearing as Annie Edison in Community, and since then, has appeared on the big and small screens in a diverse mix of roles. Despite this, Brie is known for being incredibly funny, which is essential for Francie.

The most important fact about Brie’s career that would make her a good Francie is that she has proven time and again that she can handle both comedy and drama. Some of Brie’s most important television roles have seen her toeing the line between humor and tragedy, including BoJack Horseman, GLOW, and even her early role in Mad Men. All in all, Brie would fit in very well with the twisted comedy of The Bear.

8 Natasha Lyonne

Chaotic Fun

A popular choice among The Bear viewers for Francie’s actress is Natasha Lyonne. Lyonne is another actress who has proven her acting chops as both a comedian and a dramatic actor. Though she got her start in film, appearing in projects like Slums of Beverly Hills and But I’m a Cheerleader, she later made a name for herself on television by starring in Orange is the New Black. Just like Allison Brie, Lyonne has a knack for turning darkness into comedy and vice versa.

There’s no doubt that Lyonne could match the show’s energy, while also bringing an intense edge to Francie.

Although Lyonne is a bit older than Elliott, she stands out as a strong candidate because of her general aura of chaos. On-screen and in real life, Lyonne brings an unpredictable and fun energy to everything she does. This would pair perfectly with The Bear, which is known for its overwhelming moments of stress. There’s no doubt that Lyonne could match the show’s energy, while also bringing an intense edge to Francie.

7 Krysten Ritter

A Perfect Match

An actress that could bring some bite to the rivalry between Sugar and Francie is Krysten Ritter. Rising to fame in the early 2000s, Ritter is best known for projects such as Breaking Bad, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, and Jessica Jones. Based on these series alone, it is clear that Ritter has quite a range of acting skills, and isn’t afraid to get into darker themes. This is exactly what would make her such a strong Francie Fak.

While the Fak family members are generally pretty goofy, having Francie be a completely serious and put-together person would be an amazing switch-up for The Bear audiences, and Ritter could embody this perfectly. It would be awesome to see Ritter and Elliot go head-to-head, knowing that they can both channel a very fierce energy. Even then, Ritter has also delved into comedy before, which fits The Bear’s general style.

6 Aidy Bryant

Sweet SNL Star

Another SNL star that could be great as Francie is Aidy Bryant. Bryant worked on Saturday Night Live for ten years, ranging from 2012 to 2022. The actress earned plenty of accolades for her time on the show, and went on to helm her own sitcom, Shrill. Notably, Bryant also worked alongside Elliott at SNL. Once again, this creates an interesting synergy between the actresses that The Bear could certainly take advantage of.

Abby Elliott appeared on
Saturday Night Live
from 2008 to 2012.

Because of Sugar’s dislike of Francie, it is easy to imagine her as being particularly annoying. However, if Bryant were to take on the role, it could be intriguing to see a more kind-hearted version of Francie. Perhaps, with Bryant on-board, Francie could be completely lovely, making it all the more strange that Sugar hates her. This is another curveball that could be really compelling to see, even if many believe Bryant to be too sweet to play Francie.

5 Alex Borstein

Iconically Cranky

Yet another popular choice to play Francie is Alex Borstein. Borstein is a well-known name in comedy, having originated the role of Lois in Family Guy and appearing in other projects like Gilmore Girls. More recently, Borstein garnered wide acclaim for her role as Susie Myerson in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Many believe that this particular role of the cranky and rude Susie could be exactly what The Bear needs from its Francie.

Although Borstein is quite a bit older than Elliott, her reputation definitely makes her a likable choice for Francie. Her crotchedy personality on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel would translate well onto Francie, who is seemingly unlikable to most people she meets. Furthermore, Borstein would be a hilarious fit with the other Faks, especially since John Cena took on the role of Sammy Fak in The Bear season 3.

4 Cecily Strong

A Hilarious Illinois Native

An actress who has the perfect vibe to play Francie Fak is Cecily Strong. Another SNL alum, Strong appeared on the sketch show for ten years, making her the longest tenured female cast member in SNL’s history. She also had a starring role in the Apple TV+ series, Schmigadoon!, and appeared in Ghostbusters and The Female Brain.

The Bear is well-known for casting actors who are Chicago natives and Strong would be a great example of this, as she grew up in Springfield, Illinois. Additionally, Strong has the talent to back up her casting. She is obviously funny with a great stage presence and plenty of on-screen experience. Like Krysten Ritter, Strong also has a personality that matches Elliott’s very well, and so it would be a delight to see the two comedians butt heads.

3 Megan Stalter

A Relative Newcomer

An actress that most probably would not think of but who would make an ideal fit as Francie in Megan Stalter. Stalter has been in the comedy scene for a long time now, but didn’t truly make her breakthrough until she appeared as Kayla in the critically acclaimed series, Hacks. Since then, she has had various movie and television roles, but is still likely considered to be a relative newcomer to the entertainment business.

As proven by The Bear season 3, the show is not afraid to bring in big-name actors for even the smallest roles, but bringing in someone like Stalter would harken back to The Bear’s earliest days, when its biggest name was Jeremy Allen White. Stalter is undoubtedly talented, and giving her a cameo on The Bear would shine a spotlight on her that she definitely deserves.

2 Jenny Slate

A Fantastic Ball Of Energy

One final SNL alum that could easily take on the role of Francie is Jenny Slate. Slate is a comedian who is probably best known for her voice work, but has left her mark as an actor as well, starring in 2014’s The Obvious Child, and more recently, appearing in It Ends With Us. Slate is a unique figure in the comedy world because of her eccentric personality and her vulnerability within her stand-up and her other writing.

This is an ideal scenario for Francie Fak, who must be likably unlikable.

When it comes to Slate, there is no denying that she has an addicting energy. With her high-pitched voice and general silliness, she is easy to root for and love, even when she is acting irritating. This is an ideal scenario for Francie Fak, who must be likably unlikable. Furthermore, Slate’s general ambiance would create a new and interesting dynamic in the high-stress kitchen of The Bear.

1 Emmy Rossum

A Shameless Reunion

Finally, a fantastic choice to play Francie would be Emmy Rossum. Rossum is a singer and actress who is best-known for her role as Fiona in Shameless. Notably, she appeared in this series alongside Jeremy Allen White, who played Fiona’s younger brother, Lip. While it would be awesome to see White and Rossum reunite on the small screen, this isn’t the only reason that Rossum should appear on The Bear. She actually has the skill to back up her potential casting.

After so many seasons on Shameless, Rossum showcased her ability to be a complicated hero, which is perfect for The Bear. Rossum has shown that she can be messy and immoral, which would be a perfect look for Francie and The Bear at large. In general, Rossum is a very talented actress, so there’s little doubt that she could ace any role given to her. The Bear would be an ideal place for Rossum to land.