Carrie Bradshaw once said, “I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes.” But Sarah Jessica parker, the woman behind the sassy fashionista in the hit TV show Sex and the City, isn’t Jimmy Choo-obsessed, nor does she have a wardrobe filled with playful tutus and strappy slip dresses.Still, the confident 58-year-old actor is fielding hateful comments from the online population who can’t understand why her real-life persona is contrary to the modish character she plays.
Parker, who’s proudly aging naturally, gracefully and beautifully, answers back saying it’s, “just not a reality,” and “there’s no time to let vanity enter.” Keep reading to learn what the lovely Sarah Jessica Parker has to say about aging!
In her role as the beloved Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker served some iconic, oftentimes controversial, looks.
While her character was considered a trendsetter by women across the globe, Parker in real life, has never been an urban chic fashionista.
“It’s not the way I perceive myself, I’m so low on my priority list,” said Parker, who raised three children while she was at the height of her career. “I love beautiful clothes and am privileged enough to have access to a lot them…but they also are returned the next day. They are not mine.”
Keep reading to learn more…
In real life, the star admits that she prefers a practical style, which isn’t always popular with the demanding public.
Unsexiest woman alive
In fact, in 2008, she was named in a Maxim poll as the “Unsexiest Woman Alive.”
Shortly after she earned the unflattering title, Parker spoke with Grazia (through Daily Mail) and said, “Do I have big fake boobs, Botox and big lips? No. Do I fit some ideals and standards of some men writing in a men’s magazine? Maybe not.” The star of And Just Like That continues, “Am I really the unsexiest woman in the world? Wow! It’s kind of shocking when men…It’s so brutal in a way…”
Years later, the Family Stone star appeared at the Met Gala wearing a golden Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with an ornate nativity headpiece.
Though she was serving an incredibly unique and smashing look, the public only commented on her aging.
“Aye real quick, how old is Sarah Jessica Parker because [her] skin look like tree bark and I’m confused,” said one. A second writes, “Is that Sarah Jessica Parker? Oh gosh she looks so old and worn out.”
Then, in 2021, the Hocus Pocus star was lunching with Bravo star Andy Cohen. Parker was makeup free, her silvery hair tied back in a braided ponytail.
It didn’t take long for the online population to start spitting hate over her appearance. But, Cohen, who also has a head of grey hair, defended his friend.
“We were at lunch and there was a paparazzi, and she’s sitting next to me, white hair,” said Cohen, 55, of his own white hair. Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show, he continued, “All the articles were ‘Sarah Jessica Parker, she’s going gray’ and ‘She looks old,’ and it was insanity.
Here she is sitting next to me, who’s gray, and people just missed the mark totally. It was so misogynistic.”
Following that, Parker spoke with Vogue and had a lot to say about unforgiving people and their unrealistic standards of beauty.
“There’s so much misogynist chatter… I’m sitting with Andy Cohen, and he has a full head of gray hair, and he’s exquisite. Why is it okay for him?” Parker continues, “‘She has too many wrinkles, she doesn’t have enough wrinkles.’ It almost feels as if people don’t want us to be perfectly okay 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.
She adds, “I know what I look like. I have no choice. What am I going to do about it? Stop aging? Disappear?”
Influential woman
The title of “unsexist woman alive” was upstaged in 2022 when the Golden Globe winning actor was named by Time as one of its “100 most influential people in the world.”
Though she may not dress the part of Carrie, who’s the star of the TV series, two films and the reboot And Just Like That, Parker does own her own designer brand, SJP, which – not surprisingly – started as shoes.
The star of Honeymoon in Vegas is also a TV producer, the co-founder of the spirit “The Perfect Cosmo by SJP” (Carrie’s favorite drink), is involved with publishing, fragrances and has a wine label – to name a few.
And just like that
Also unlike Carrie and her hapless search for romance, the star of Footloose found love in the early 1990s with Matthew Broderick, the star of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
The adorable couple – who starred on Broadway together – married on May 19, 1997, and have been together ever since.
When Broderick was asked to reveal his secret for a successful marriage, he answered: “I don’t know the secret at all, but I, you know, I’m very grateful and I love her. It’s amazing. I mean, I can’t believe that it’s been that long. It doesn’t feel like it.”
The couple share three kids, son James Wilkie (born 2002), along with twins Tabitha Hodge and Marion Loretta Elwell, who joined the family in 2009, via surrogate.
The woman leads a busy life and should be applauded for her accomplishments, not criticized.
Speaking natural in real life, the actor said, “It’s not how I think of myself, and I think it’s probably the healthier approach.”
She continues, “It’s just not a reality – not when you have three kids, and you go to the market, and there are hungry people at home. You have a limited time to do it. There’s just no time to let vanity enter into that.”
My Husband Left Me and Our Toddler in Economy Class and Went to Business Himself – He Regretted It So Much in a Few Days
When Claire, John, and their son, Ethan, board a flight to John’s parents, John mysteriously disappears to Business Class, leaving Claire to tackle the flight with the baby alone. But when they get to their destination, Claire’s father-in-law teaches John a lesson that he won’t forget.
About a week ago, my father-in-law really showed my husband that despite being married and having a son, he still had a lot to learn.
A couple with their toddler | Source: Midjourney
My husband, John, and I were gearing up for the long-awaited trip to his parents with our energetic two-year-old son, Ethan. John had been particularly stressed with work and kept going on about how much he needed a break.
“Claire, I can’t wait to finally relax,” John said as we packed our bags. “I just need some peace and quiet, you know?”
I smiled, though I was preoccupied with packing Ethan’s toys.
“I know, John. We all need a break. But it’ll be fun for Ethan to see his grandparents and be spoilt with their love for a bit.”
Little did I know, my husband had rather selfish plans in mind.
A woman packing suitcases | Source: Midjourney
At the airport, I was busy wrangling our toddler and managing the luggage while still trying to open a container of applesauce for Ethan. John mysteriously vanished.
“What the heck?” I muttered to myself, thinking that he probably went to the bathroom before we boarded.
Later, I spotted him again at the gate, looking unusually calm.
“Where have you been?” I asked, balancing Ethan on my hip.
“Just taking care of something,” he replied, a smirk playing on his lips. “And I needed to grab a pair of headphones.”
A woman holding a toddler | Source: Midjourney
“Did you get me a pair?” I asked him.
“No,” he said. “I didn’t think you’d need one because you’d have to worry about Ethan.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. Who was this man?
But that wasn’t all.
As we boarded, John handed me our boarding passes, with his looking different from ours.
“John, why do you have a business class ticket?” I asked, feeling crushed.
A boarding gate | Source: Unsplash
My husband shrugged nonchalantly.
“I can’t deal with you and the kid right now. I need some peace and quiet for once. We’re going to be dealing with a lot of family from this evening.”
I bit back my anger for the duration of the flight. I didn’t have any other option but the thought of John reclining with a glass of champagne while Ethan pulled on my hair and fussed throughout.
A man drinking on a flight | Source: Midjourney
“Try patting him on the back,” the woman next to me suggested. “Maybe that will calm him down.”
I smiled at her, not wanting to growl because my son had driven my patience to almost nonexistent.
“Thank you,” I replied as Ethan reached out a sticky hand to swat the woman’s hair.
It was one of the longest flights of my life, and by the time we arrived, my frustration had morphed into cold fury.
Of course, John was oblivious to my mood as we headed to his parents’ place.
“It’s so wonderful to see you! How was the flight?” John’s mother, Amy, said, taking Ethan from my arms.
An opened front door | Source: Unsplash
I forced a smile.
“It was fine, Mrs. Smith,” I said. “Ethan was a bit restless, but we managed.”
John’s father, Jacob, eyed us keenly.
“And you, John?” he asked. “How was your flight?”
John grinned, completely missing the tension that was filling up the room.
“Oh, it was fantastic! Business class is really something else. I see why everyone opts for it if they can.”
A smiling man | Source: Midjourney
My father-in-law’s expression hardened slightly, but he remained silent.
The next day, we were all supposed to go out for a family dinner.
“It’s just tradition for us to go to the restaurant when family is over,” Amy said as she played with Ethan. “Dress warm, Claire, it’s been getting a nippy at night.”
An older woman playing with a toddler | Source: Midjourney
Just as we were getting ready to leave, Mr. Smith called John into his study.
“John, your mother and I will take care of Claire and Ethan tonight. You, however, will stay here and prepare the house for the rest of the guests. Your brother will be here in the morning. The beds have to be made up,” Jacob said firmly.
My husband was taken aback.
“But it’s our family dinner, Dad,” John said. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“Tonight, you’ll understand what it feels like to be left behind,” Jacob continued.
A close-up of a man | Source: Midjourney
John tried to argue, but Mr. Smith wouldn’t budge at all. We left for dinner, and John had no choice but to stay behind and sort the house out for the rest of his family.
When we returned, the house was spotless, and John was fuming but silent.
“Oh, but that’s not all,” Jacob said to me as I headed upstairs to put Ethan down later that night.
“What do you mean?” I asked nervously.
“You’ll see tomorrow,” he said, smiling, as he walked to his bedroom.
A smiling man wearing a nightgown | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, as we sat down to breakfast, my father-in-law sat John down with a detailed list of chores that he needed to do.
“Cleaning the garage? Really, Dad? And fixing the fence? Mowing the lawn?” John complained. “Why are you doing this? Usually, you hire people for this.”
Mr. Smith’s gaze was unwavering.
“You need to learn the value of family and hard work. You don’t get to escape your responsibilities because you feel like it or because there’s an easy way out. You will spend the rest of the week making up for what you did to Claire and Ethan.”
John looked shocked, finally realizing that his business class escape came with consequences.
A man standing in a shed | Source: Midjourney
He spent the rest of the week maintaining the entire property. And each evening, his work was checked by his father, ensuring that it was done right.
“I am exhausted,” he said one evening as he flopped onto the bed. “And I really wanted to go strawberry picking with you, Ethan, and my mom today. But I had to paint the fence.”
I almost felt sorry for him. But not enough to take the bait. I knew that during his time cleaning and mending around the house, he had plenty of time to reflect on his actions.
A toddler at a strawberry patch | Source: Midjourney
The day before we were set to leave, my husband came to me, his eyes filled with remorse.
“I’m so sorry for everything,” he said quietly. “I understand now how hard it is and how much I took you for granted.”
“It’s not just about understanding, John. It’s about being there, every step of the way,” I said, folding our clothes.
He promised to be better, and I believed that he was sincere.
But it seemed that my father-in-law had one more card to play.
A woman packing clothes | Source: Pexels
“Your business class ticket for the return flight has been canceled and exchanged for an economy seat. But Claire and Ethan will travel in business class. You can manage on your own this time, John,” he said.
My husband’s face dropped as he realized the implications of his father’s swap. He tried to protest, but Mr. Smith was adamant, stressing that John needed to understand the value of family and empathy through firsthand experience.
A close-up of an older man | Source: Midjourney
“I’m so sorry,” John said when we got to the airport. “I didn’t mean to hurt you like this. I just wanted a moment of peace. Work has been a lot.”
“It’s okay,” I replied, holding onto Ethan. “But things have to change when we get home. Okay, John?”
He nodded slowly and kissed my forehead before we had to separate and board the flight.
A couple with a toddler at the airport | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
Am I Wrong for Spending My Son’s University Fund on a Trip to Europe?
Imagine losing your everything, then defying the world to honor their memory. That’s where this story starts. My son, a dream tragically shattered, and a trip to Europe that took an unexpected turn — a turn that revealed the true depths of grief and love. Let me tell you about it.
A mother-son duo sitting on a couch and using a laptop | Source: Pexels
My son, Lucas, has always been a brilliant kid — way smarter than me. I used to joke about getting a paternity test because he was so intelligent. Ever since he was little, Lucas had this spark, this insatiable curiosity that set him apart.
I set up an education fund for him, which he could use for anything as long as he pursued post-secondary education. That fund was my way of ensuring he had every opportunity to chase his dreams, whatever they might be.
A man carrying his little boy on his shoulders | Source: Pexels
Lucas was around 12 when Lisa and I divorced. It wasn’t an easy time for us, but we managed to keep things amicable for Lucas’ sake. Lisa remarried when Lucas was 14. Her new husband, Matt, seemed like a decent guy, and Lucas got along with him well enough.
I found love again too, and remarried Melissa when Lucas turned 16. She was great with Lucas, always supportive and kind, which made the transition smoother. Despite the changes in our family dynamics, Lucas and I stayed close. We had this running joke about his education fund.
A father and son posing together | Source: Pexels
I always told him, “You know, Lucas, if you decide not to go to university, I could use that money to travel to Europe and have the time of my life.”
He’d laugh and play along, never letting me get under his skin. “Don’t worry, Dad,” he’d say, “I’ll make sure you get to Europe someday, even if it’s with my degree money.”
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