The Cast of ‘Sex and the City,’ Then and Now

Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker

Long before she landed what would become her signature role on the hit HBO series, Parker made her Broadway debut at age 11 in the 1976 revival of The Innocents and then starred in the title role of the Broadway musical Annie in 1979.

After six years seasoning her role as sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw, the Golden Globe winner went on to star in several romantic comedies. Parker’s film credits include Failure to Launch, I Don’t Know How She Does It, Did You Hear About the Morgans? and New Year’s Eve.

Parker, who has received 10 Emmy Award nominations, all for Sex and the City, has since received critical acclaim and recognition for her role in HBO’s Divorce. Then in 2021, she reprised her infamous character from Sex and the City for the sequel And Just Like That.

After Sex and the City, Parker and her husband, Matthew Broderick, welcomed twin daughters in 2009. They also have a son.

Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall

When Cattrall signed up to co-star in the series, she had already played Kurt Russell’s flame in the action film Big Trouble in Little China and the lead role in Mannequin. Her sex-driven publicist Samantha engaged in unconventional relationships and deviated from commitment at all costs, apart from a small handful of relationships. Her scene-stealing character was known for being a fiercely loyal friend.

After rumors of a third film emerged, Cattrall made it clear she was not interested and said she felt the SATC workplace was extremely toxic. After long speculation that the actress and Sarah Jessica Parker were feuding off camera, Cattrall essentially confirmed the rumors in an Instagram post directed at Parker, telling her: “You are not my family. You are not my friend.”

In 2021, when several Sex and the City alums reprised their roles in the sequel, And Just Like That, Cattrall opted out to return. But ahead of the premiere of the show’s second season in 2023, it was revealed that she will make a brief appearance as Samantha in the series.

Charlotte York, played by Kristin Davis

Davis played a WASP-y New York City art dealer, yearning for the perfect life and man. Her character finally found love when she met Harry after a few emotional seasons battling a failed marriage and balancing her career at the gallery.

Before playing Charlotte, she was known for her role as Brooke Armstrong on Melrose Place. After SATC ended, Davis expanded her work, making her Broadway debut in the 2012 revival of The Best Man and in the 2014 stage production of Fatal Attraction.

She has also appeared in several movies and TV shows since SATC ended, and then reprised her role as Charlotte in 2021 for the sequel, And Just Like That.

Miranda Hobbes, played by Cynthia Nixon

Before her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes won her an Emmy and worldwide recognition, Cynthia Nixon made her film debut in 1980’s Little Darlings and made her Broadway debut that same year in a revival of The Philadelphia Story. Her other Broadway credits before joining SATC included The Real Thing, Hurlyburly and Indiscretions.

In SATC, Nixon brought to life Miranda Hobbes, a workaholic lawyer and one of Carrie Bradshaw’s best friends. As the pair navigated their complicated love lives, she serves as a consistent voice of reason. Hobbes often struggles with the success of her career and finding a partner who can accept her. After she becomes pregnant with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Steve Brady, she moves to Brooklyn. Although she initially stays single after she gives, the couple eventually get married. 

Since the show, Nixon has remained a highly successful actress, winning two Tony Awards for best actress for Rabbit Hole and for The Little Foxes, an Emmy Award in 2008 for her guest appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a Grammy Award for best spoken word album.

Nixon entered the race for governor of New York in 2018.

Then in 2021, Nixon also returned for the SATC sequel, And Just Like That, to reprise her role as Miranda. The series is set to premiere its second season in 2023.

Aidan Shaw, played by John Corbett

Before joining the Sex and the City cast as one of Carrie’s love interests, John Corbett had won an Emmy and Golden Globe for his role of Chris Stevens in Northern Exposure.

He played Carrie’s love interest Aidan. While she accepts his proposal in season four, the couple breaks up due to her inability to commit and a brief fling with Big. 

During the duration of SATC, Corbett starred in films including Raising Helen, Raise Your Voice and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Following the end of SATC, Corbett co-starred in the Showtime comedy-drama series United States of Tara, as the title character’s husband, Max Gregson. He also had a recurring role as Seth Holt on the NBC drama series Parenthood from 2011-15. More recently, he played the father, Dr. Covey, in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise.

In 2023, Corbett is also set to make an appearance as Aidan in the SATC sequel, And Just Like That.

Mr. Big, played by Chris Noth

The two-time Golden Globe nominee played Carrie Bradshaw’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Mr. Big. His character, a rich and charismatic New Yorker, drove Carrie crazy because of his commitment issues and emotional unavailability.

Noth is also known for his role of Mike Logan on NBC’s Law & Order, which he played for five years from 1990-95, two years before starring as Mr. Big. After the SATC franchise ended, he reprised his role of Mike Logan on spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent and starred in CBS’ The Good Wife from 2009-16.

He has also taken on roles in several other shows, including Tyrant, Manhunt, Gone and The Equalizer. In 2021, he reprised his role as Mr. Big in two episodes of And Just Like That’s first season.

Aleksandr Petrovsky, played by Mikhail Baryshnikov

On the final season of Sex and the City, Baryshnikov played Carrie’s love interest, Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovsky, who takes her to Paris. After Carrie uproots her life, she quickly realizes she and the reclusive artist have nothing in common. With Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda’s approval, Mr. Big woos her back to New York in the finale.

Baryshnikov is known for his distinction in ballet. He performed as a principal dancer in the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre, where he later became artistic director.

Trey MacDougal, played by Kyle MacLachlan

The one-time husband of Charlotte York has had prominent roles in television shows including Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, Portlandia, Twin Peaks, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Carol’s Second Act. More recently, he has also made appearances in How I Met Your Father and Lucky Hank.

Despite fulfilling everything on York’s bucket list — MacLachlan played a Park Avenue cardiologist — the pair divorce due to their lack of compatibility in the bedroom and his overbearing mother, Bunny.

Before appearing on the show, he won a Golden Globe for best actor for ABC’s Twin Peaks and was nominated again in 2018 in the same category for Showtime’s reboot of that show. He also earned two Emmy nominations, in 1990 and 1991, for Twin Peaks.

Smith Jerrod, played by Jason Lewis

Fresh out of college, the actor best known as Samantha Jones’ boyfriend, Smith, started modeling in Paris for brands like Guess, Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss. The former fashion model’s character wins Samantha’s heart with his sincerity, even shaving his hair in solidarity when she gets cancer.

After the hit series ended, Lewis reprised his role in the Sex and the City movies, as well as appeared on a slew of television shows from Charmed to Brothers & Sisters and Midnight, Texas.

Steve Brady, played by David Eigenberg

David Eigenberg played Miranda Hobbes’ on-again, off-again boyfriend, Steve. While Miranda sees him as a one-night stand, Steve’s persistence convinces her to start a relationship. Their relationship is often affected with issues caused by the pair’s differences in incomes. Despite their breakups and challenges, Miranda and Steve end up having a baby and staying married throughout the series and both movies.

Eigenberg has since been known for his role as firefighter Christopher Herrmann on Chicago Fire.

In 2021, he also reprised his role as Steve in the Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That.

Stanford Blatch, played by Willie Garson

Outside of her three best girlfriends, Stanford Blatch plays another of Carrie’s best friends and confidants.

Charlotte tries to set him up with her friend, Anthony, who snubs him. The pair have an ongoing rivalry but eventually get married in the film’s sequel.

Willie Garson, who has appeared in more than 50 movies, was also known for his role as Mozzie on White Collar. In 2021, he died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57.

Harry Goldenblatt, played by Evan Handler

Evan Handler is best known for his role as Charlotte York’s divorce attorney and husband. Despite her initial repulsion of his character, Harry Goldenblatt, she quickly falls in love with him — even converting to Judaism, so they can get married.

After Sex and the City, Handler played Charlie Runkle on Californication for seven years.

He also made appearances in several other TV shows before reprising his role as Harry in the Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That.