Sarah Jessica Parker is beautiful inside and out. She is incredibly talented and is most known for her work as an actress. One of her most famous and critically acclaimed roles came from her time starring as Carrie Bradshaw on the TV series “Sex and the City” from 1998 until 2004. The show was recognized for breaking new ground when it came to female representation on-screen.
“Sex and the City” was a huge success and to this day continues to have a strong following, so much so that in 2021 a spin-off series was released, with Parker reprising her beloved role. While many fans were overjoyed with the return of the characters from the original series in the spin-off, “And Just Like That…,” not everyone was as positive about the series.
Several trolls took to the internet to share their distaste for Parker’s casting, and they pointed out just how much she has aged since the original show aired. The actress had been in her 30s during “Sex and the City” and is currently 57 years old.
However, Parker is not putting up with the backlash and criticism any longer, and in November 2021, she talked about the realities of aging in the public eye and being a working actress at any age. She also called out just how unfair and misogynistic people were acting toward her for just doing what everyone does: age. She spoke at length about her reaction to the unwarranted comments and touched on what she plans on doing career-wise in the future.
Parker has been an icon in the entertainment industry for several decades. While she is most known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City,” she had already been a respected actress for many years beforehand. She made her Broadway debut at the young age of 11 before continuing to act on stage. Later, Parker landed roles in films, including “Hocus Pocus,” “The First Wives Club” and “Failure to Launch.”
It’s not surprising that Parker’s work has been loved by fans, and it has also been received well by critics. The actress has received plenty of accolades, including Golden Globe Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.
Outside of acting, Parker is known for her romantic life. She was in a relationship with fellow actor Robert Downey Jr. from 1984 to 1992 after meeting on the set of “Firstborn.” But in 1997, Parker tied the knot with actor Matthew Broderick. They first met thanks to one of Parker’s brothers, and it was clear that Parker and Broderick were destined to be together. On Oct. 28, 2002, the happy couple welcomed their son James. Their twin daughters, Marion and Tabitha, were born in June 2009 via surrogacy. Since then, the family has lived in Greenwich Village in New York.
Taking all of this into consideration, it’s easy to see that Parker has led a very beautiful life. On top of that, she is also an extremely gorgeous woman and has been recognized as a style icon to many. However, even Parker hasn’t been able to avoid the harsh criticism about her appearance as she ages that so many other celebrities have received.
In an interview, she asserted, “There’s so much misogynist chatter in response to us that would never. Happen. About. A. Man.” In the piece, Parker talked about how hypocritical it was for people to shame her and other actresses for having gray hair but not shame men in the industry for having the same appearance. Parker also pointed out how people seem to be emboldened by social media, anonymously shaming her for anything, whether it be too many wrinkles or not enough wrinkles.
The actress continued: “It almost feels as if people don’t want us to be perfectly OK with where we are, as if they almost enjoy us being pained by who we are today, whether we choose to age naturally and not look perfect, or whether you do something if that makes you feel better. I know what I look like. I have no choice. What am I going to do about it? Stop aging? Disappear?”
Some fans were kinder to the actresses on the show and saw the series as an opportunity to join the story in the future. On the “AJLT” trailer on YouTube, one eager viewer wrote, “I’m around the same age (as) the women and absolutely love seeing them back.”
On the assertion that “SATC ” might have jumped the shark, an understandably frustrated Parker said, “People are like, ‘Why should they come back?’ and it really bugs me. Are women’s lives not interesting now? … For me that is so indicative of our reluctance to sit and watch women’s lives develop over time.”
This time around, Parker was also more honest about how much she actually doesn’t align with her famously decadent character. In speaking to PEOPLE, she explained that, unlike Bradshaw, she doesn’t have time or energy to wear items, like the iconic tutu, to the grocery store. While her image will surely always be connected to “SATC,” Parker admitted: “It’s not an identity that I … connect to. … It’s not how I think of myself and I think it’s probably the healthier approach.”
She echoed this sentiment in an interview with Vogue, where she said, “To be honest, I’ve never given much thought to (my attitude toward beauty); it’s never been that I’m without vanity — that would be complete nonsense — but I think that as time passes, you buy the things you enjoy, you learn how to put your cosmetics on in the way that feels most natural to you.” It seems motherhood, married life, and time have freed her from chasing the standards set by “SATC.”
Still, Parker has been criticized for taking a laid-back approach to her looks, especially given she doesn’t seem to make exceptions for glitzy appearances like the Met Gala. But she offered her viewpoint in a video she did with Vogue: “You get to borrow something you like, you think it speaks to you at a moment, in a place, in a time, for an event. And you wear it and maybe some people don’t think you look amazing and that’s certainly their right.” She added that ultimately fashion “is just a thing … so what’s the point of the criticism?” The battle is inevitable and unwinnable.
But, Parker is sticking to her guns and paving the way for other actresses to stay the way they are and not change, no matter how big the criticism.
What do you think of the release of “And Just Like That…” and Parker’s stance on aging? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family and any fellow “Sex and the City” fans!
