About
Sarah Jessica Parker (born March 25, 1965, in Nelsonville, Ohio) is an American actress and producer whose relatable charm and sharp comic timing took her from child-actor roles on Broadway to international fame on television and film. Although her résumé spans more than four decades, she remains best known for her portrayal of witty columnist Carrie Bradshaw in HBO’s “Sex and the City.”
Carrie’s adventures turned Parker into a pop-culture fixture. Between 1998 and 2004 she collected two Primetime Emmys, four Golden Globes and three Screen Actors Guild awards for the role—honors that cemented both the show and its star in the modern TV canon.
Parker has continued playing Carrie in “And Just Like That…,” the revival that streams on Max. Season 3, due in 2025, promises “big swings” and an influx of fresh characters, according to Parker’s own recent teaser at the Red Sea Film Festival.
Beyond acting she has built a busy creative life off-screen. In 2024 she launched SJP Lit, a publishing imprint devoted to under-represented voices, and soon after accepted a place on the judging panel for the 2025 Booker Prize—an appointment many book lovers cheered as proof of her literary credibility.
Philanthropy is another pillar of her public identity. At the 2024 Golden Heart Awards, Michael Kors handed Parker the Outstanding Philanthropy trophy for her longtime support of God’s Love We Deliver, a non-profit that provides medically tailored meals to New Yorkers in need.
Before Fame
Parker grew up as one of eight children in a blended, artistically minded family. Her mother, Barbara, ran a nursery-school program while encouraging free museum visits and ballet lessons; her father, Stephen, wrote and ran small businesses. Money was tight, but cultural experiences were plentiful.
After early voice and dance training in Cincinnati, young Sarah landed a part in the Broadway revival of “The Innocents.” The family relocated to Dobbs Ferry, New York, so she could attend specialized performing-arts schools. Stage work soon multiplied, culminating in her stint as the title orphan in the musical “Annie”—a role that quietly prepared her for the workload of series television years later.
Trivia
- Fashion Footprint: Parker’s status as a red-carpet risk-taker inspired the SJP Collection, her own footwear line stocked by upscale retailers.
- Wine Maker: Since 2019 she has collaborated with New Zealand’s Invivo & Co. to release award-winning Sauvignon Blanc and rosé vintages that bear her signature initials.
- Literary Champion: Her passion for reading predates SJP Lit; she previously curated book picks for the American Library Association’s online club and served on the Obama-era President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
- Philanthropic Gesture: At the Golden Heart Awards Parker literally handed her new trophy to veteran God’s Love staffer Pat Costello as a thank-you for decades of service—an impromptu act that drew a standing ovation.
- Streaming Marathoner: Filming Season 3 of “And Just Like That…” required seven consecutive months of 12-hour days, a regimen Parker gamely described as “really robust and exciting.”
Family Life
During the 1980s Parker dated actor Robert Downey Jr., a relationship she has described as formative yet challenging. In May 1997 she married fellow performer Matthew Broderick in a low-key Manhattan ceremony officiated by Broderick’s sister. The couple share three children—son James (born 2002) and twin daughters Marion and Tabitha (born 2009 via surrogate)—and divide their time between Greenwich Village and a seaside retreat in County Donegal, Ireland.
Associated With
- Kristin Davis & Cynthia Nixon: Parker’s on-screen best friends from both the original “Sex and the City” and its modern sequel. Davis even cheered her pal on at the 2024 Golden Heart Awards.
- Kim Cattrall: Occasional co-star whose surprise cameo in “And Just Like That…” Season 2 made headlines.
- Michael Kors: Fashion designer and longtime supporter of God’s Love We Deliver who presented Parker’s philanthropy award.
- Roddy Doyle, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ & Kiley Reid: Fellow jurors alongside Parker on the 2025 Booker Prize panel.
- Matthew Broderick: Husband, Broadway collaborator and sometimes producing partner; the two maintain an intentionally low-profile marriage despite their combined star power.
