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Emmy-winning actress and fashion icon
She gained global stardom portraying fashion columnist Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series Sex and the City.
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American actress and producer who has performed across screen and stage for over five decades. She won six Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City (1998-2004), reprising the role in two films and the revival series And Just Like That... (2021-2025). Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.
Born on March 25, 1965, in Nelsonville, Ohio, Parker was one of eight children in a blended family. Her mother Barbara, a nursery school teacher, and stepfather Paul Forste struggled financially but immersed the children in culture, taking them to free ballet and theater performances in Cincinnati. At age 11, she made her Broadway debut in the 1976 revival of The Innocents, and in 1979 she starred as Annie in the Broadway musical, holding the title role for a year.
Parker married actor Matthew Broderick on May 19, 1997, in a ceremony conducted by his sister, an Episcopal priest, and they remain married with three children: son James born in 2002 and twin daughters born via surrogate in 2009. Standing 5'3" tall, she divides her time between residences in New York City and a vacation home in Ireland. She is a UNICEF ambassador and has been celebrated as a fashion icon, with her shoe line launched in 2014 and multiple Met Gala appearances drawing widespread media attention.
She was 28 years old when Hocus Pocus was released in 1993, playing witch Sarah Sanderson alongside Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy.
Her father Stephen Parker was born with the surname Bar-Kahn (son of Kohen), and she identifies as culturally Jewish despite having no formal religious training.
She won the CFDA Fashion Icon Award in 2004 and launched her own shoe collection in 2014, blending her acting career with fashion entrepreneurship.
Her family was so financially strained during childhood that electricity was sometimes shut off and birthdays went uncelebrated, yet her mother ensured the children attended free cultural events.
She founded her production company Pretty Matches in 2005, producing content for HBO and other networks including her own starring vehicles.
I wouldn't change any of it, for anything. For the most part, we had everything we needed. Not always, but for the most part.
As an actor, you always want to try new things, so the fact that they write these women in a way that you get to do different things is great.
Made Broadway debut at age 11 in the revival of The Innocents
Starred in the title role of Broadway musical Annie, holding the part for one year
Landed lead role in CBS sitcom Square Pegs, earning critical acclaim despite one-season run
Made breakthrough film appearance in Footloose
Played witch Sarah Sanderson in Disney's Hocus Pocus, which became a cult classic
Married actor Matthew Broderick on May 19
Cast as Carrie Bradshaw in HBO's Sex and the City, launching her to global stardom
Won first Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Sex and the City
Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series as producer of Sex and the City
Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and received CFDA Fashion Icon Award
Founded production company Pretty Matches
Reprised Carrie Bradshaw role in Sex and the City feature film
Launched SJP shoe collection, combining acting career with fashion design
Returned as Carrie Bradshaw in HBO Max revival series And Just Like That...
Named to Time 100 list of most influential people and starred in Hocus Pocus 2