Sarah Jessica Parker Opens Up About Mean Comments About Her Appearance in ‘Sex and the City’

The iconic actress reflects on how public criticism of her looks left a lasting emotional impact

June 21, 2025 | Sarah Jessica Parker, known globally as Carrie Bradshaw from HBO’s iconic series Sex and the City, is opening up about the emotional toll fame took on her — specifically the harsh commentary about her appearance in the early 2000s.

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In a candid conversation on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, the Emmy-winning actress revealed that she “wasn’t prepared for public commentary” about her physical appearance when the show first aired in 1998.

“That was really unpleasant at times when people would have opinions — not about the work,” said Parker, now 60.

While Parker admitted that occasional viewer misunderstandings about her character could be frustrating, it was the personal attacks that hurt the most.

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“At that time, I thought I was a fairly confident person,” she shared. “It really comes into question and is tested when you’re filleted, in a way, when you’re opened up.”

🎙️ “A Kick in the Rubber Parts”

She described one instance in particular when a magazine published a brutal remark about her appearance.

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“It was like a kick in the rubber parts,” Parker recalled. “I was sobbing because it felt so purposeful.”

Despite her resilience, she admitted that it was the only time she truly cried over such comments.

“It didn’t feel like it was actually a conversation,” she said. “Why do you seem angry about it? Why do you feel it’s necessary to say it?”

She added that while she had never considered altering anything about herself, it was jarring to hear people suggest she should — especially when those critiques felt anonymous and cold.

👠 Navigating Fame, Then and Now

Parker, who has been married to actor Matthew Broderick since 1997 and is a mother of three, reflected on how social media has since changed the way public opinion is shared — but the pain of judgment remains the same.

“We’re better for those kinds of experiences,” she told Cooper. “But not all of us are good at it right away.”

The Hocus Pocus star emphasized that up until Sex and the City, she had only been judged for her work, not her looks — a line that was soon blurred once the series exploded in popularity.

Still, Parker continues to stand as a symbol of self-assured femininity and authenticity, two things that Carrie Bradshaw’s character helped inspire in a generation of women — even as the actress herself quietly fought battles behind the scenes.

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Sarah Jessica Parker, Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City, Call Her Daddy, Alex Cooper, celebrity podcast, body shaming, female empowerment, Matthew Broderick, Hollywood commentary, celebrity interviews