Actress Refused Iconic Role 4 Times Before Accepting—Find Out Why!

Although Kim Cattrall had been active in the film industry throughout the 1990s, appearing in notable films like Brian De Palma’s “The Bonfire of the Vanities” in 1991 and John Dahl’s “Unforgettable” in 1997, her most famous role by the end of the decade—and arguably in her career—was undoubtedly in the beloved series “Sex & The City.”

In the show, created by Darren Star and aired from 1998 to 2004 on HBO, she starred alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis as the unabashedly confident businesswoman Samantha, who led a very active sexual life. The series eventually concluded with two feature films released in 2008 and 2010.

“I Created a Fantastic Role”

This role significantly contributed to her fame. In a recent interview with the Times, Cattrall disclosed that she had declined the role four times before finally accepting it. She attributed her initial refusals to self-censorship and internalized ageism, fearing that being 41 years old disqualified her from portraying a self-assured New Yorker with a fulfilling sex life.

“Things have changed, now being 40 is sexy. […] Samantha wasn’t a nymphomaniac, although some might have thought so,” she told The Times. “She was just enjoying the main course. While everyone else was nibbling on appetizers, she was digging into the steak.” She added, “I’m quite the opposite in many ways; I’m a serial monogamist.”

“I created a fantastic role that I love, and if that’s all people remember me for, then that’s just fine,” continued Cattrall, who had initially refused to reprise her role in the series “And Just Like That,” before agreeing to make a cameo in the second season of this “Sex & The City” sequel. By 2024, there was even speculation about a crossover between Samantha and Emily from Netflix’s “Emily in Paris,” indicating that Cattrall isn’t quite done with her iconic character yet…