Sarah Jessica Parker Almost Left 'Sex & the City' After Episode 1: "I Panicked"
Sex & the City came out when participation in TV projects was not considered prestigious, and Sarah Jessica Parker had her concerns. Here's what the actress shared.
In 1998, four emancipated women in eye-catching outfits and expensive Manolo Blahnik shoes sipped Cosmopolitans at Manhattan's trendiest bars while discussing sex in great detail.
Sex & the City has rightfully become a cult classic, and Carrie Bradshaw has entered the pantheon of the most recognizable and influential TV characters.
Sarah Jessica Parker Wanted to Quit 'Sex & the City' After the Pilot
While finishing the script, Darren Star saw only Sarah Jessica Parker in the lead role. She had the perfect blue eyes, curls, a sweet and inviting smile, and an impeccable sense of style.
However, Parker didn't see herself in the role of Carrie or any of her friends.
In a conversation with her co-star Kristin Davis on the Are You a Charlotte? podcast, Parker admitted that she wanted to leave the show after the very first episode:
“When the show was picked up, I panicked. I was like, I can't be on a TV show. I don't think I'm suited for that life.”
SJP's Agent Had to Convince Her to Stay in 'Sex & the City'
The actress admitted that she was scared of being in a TV series because she would end up doing the same thing year after year and missing out on other projects:
“The idea of a television series meant that I couldn't do all those things. And it just kind of felt like somebody was, you know, putting their hand over my mouth or something.”
Parker then asked her agent to get her out of Sex & the City. Thankfully, the agent advised the actress to stick with the show for one year. If she didn't like it after that, she could leave. We all know what happened next.
Sarah Jessica Parker's fears were put to rest after she met Sex & the City costume designer Patricia Field. According to Parker, Field was able to transform her doubts into "endless possibilities."
Carrie Bradshaw Will Soon Return in Season 3 of 'And Just Like That'
Sarah Jessica Parker's fears at the time are understandable. In the '90s, acting on TV was not very prestigious, and Parker was developing a successful film career.
As a result, Parker still plays Carrie Bradshaw. In 2021, her character returned in the Sex & the City spin-off series, And Just Like That. The third season will be released on HBO Max on May 29.
