Behind-the-Scenes Feud: How Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker Fell Out (11 photos)

Kim Cattrall turns 70 on August 21, 2026. She turned down the role of Samantha Jones four times before finally accepting—and went on to create one of the most iconic characters in television history. Over six seasons of *Sex and the City* (1998–2004) and two feature films, she brought to life a character that redefined how Hollywood views women over forty. But behind the camera lay a very different story—a long, quiet, and equally dramatic feud.





Four Rejections and One "Yes"

When *Sex and the City* creator Darren Star first offered Kim Cattrall the role of PR maven Samantha Jones in 1997, she said no. Then she said no again. And again. In a 2025 interview with *The Times*, Cattrall admitted she rejected the offer four consecutive times due to "self-inflicted ageism"—at 41, she wasn't sure audiences would accept a sexually liberated woman her age.

It took a face-to-face meeting with Star—complete with a cup of coffee and a script reading—to convince her. Cattrall had one condition: Samantha would never want children. The producers agreed.



Samantha Jones remains one of the most iconic cable television characters of the late 90s and 2000s

"Samantha wasn't a nymphomaniac," Cattrall reflected years later. "She was just enjoying the main course while everyone else was picking at appetizers. And always on her own terms—I insisted on that."

The show premiered in June 1998, drawing millions of viewers over its six-season run. Cattrall won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 2002 and earned five Emmy nominations. Her co-star, Sarah Jessica Parker—playing columnist Carrie Bradshaw—served as the face of the franchise. It was this dynamic that sparked what would become one of the most famous behind-the-scenes feuds in TV history.

Money as Power

By the second season, the power dynamic on set had shifted. Parker was named executive producer, bringing with it a significantly higher paycheck. According to *The Telegraph*, her per-episode pay rose to around $300,000 starting in Season 2. By the final seasons, the pay gap had widened dramatically: *Celebrity Net Worth* reports that Parker was making $3.2 million per episode, while Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis were taking home $350,000 each.





On the set of *Sex and the City*: both the storyline and the budget revolved around Parker

In 2004, after the show wrapped its six-season run, Cattrall appeared on *Friday Night with Jonathan Ross* and didn't mince words:

"I felt after six years it was time for all of us to participate in the financial windfall of *Sex and the City*. When they didn't seem keen on that, I thought it was time to move on."

Executive producer Michael Patrick King framed things differently in 2018:

"First of all, the show wouldn't exist without Sarah Jessica as the star. Kim wasn't at the peak of her career, and the contracts reflected that status."

King added that while Cattrall wanted equal pay, "there was never any parity, nor could there be."



At the 2004 Emmy Awards, Parker, Nixon, and Davis sat together, while Cattrall sat separately

The tension was on full display at the 2004 Emmy Awards, where Parker, Nixon, and Davis sat together while Cattrall sat elsewhere. Crew members told the press that her castmates "wouldn't even sit with her at lunch." That same year, Cattrall put it bluntly to reporters:

"Are we best friends? No. We're professional actresses. We have separate lives."

The Movies, a Canceled Sequel, and the Point of No Return

The series finale didn't end the conflict. A feature film followed in 2008, followed by a sequel in 2010. Cattrall appeared in both, though contract negotiations were drawn-out each time. According to *Celebrity Net Worth*, she earned $7 million for the first movie and $10 million for the second, while Parker, as a producer, pulled in $15 million and $20 million, respectively.

Cattrall was open to a third film, but not under the offered terms. In October 2017, she spoke candidly to Piers Morgan on ITV:

"I think she could have been nicer. I never asked for money, I never asked for projects—to be thought of as some kind of diva is absolutely ridiculous."



Cattrall starred in both feature films but drew the line at a third

According to Parker, the studio couldn't meet Cattrall's financial demands, leading to the project's cancellation. Cattrall later insisted her only demand was simply *not* to make the movie.

"I crossed the finish line playing Samantha because I loved the show," she told *The Guardian*. "I couldn't understand why they didn't just recast my role with another actress instead of spending time bullying me. No means no."

Parker responded by claiming she had "never uttered an unkind word" and expressed heartbreak. She told *Elle* magazine, "I adore Kim. I couldn't have done the movie without her." But it was precisely these public declarations of affection that irritated Cattrall the most.

February 2018: The Post That Changed Everything

On January 30, 2018, Kim Cattrall's 55-year-old brother, Christopher, went missing from his home in Alberta, Canada. She posted his photo on Instagram, pleading for anyone with information to step forward. On February 4, she announced his death; his body was found on his ranch, and the death was deemed non-suspicious.

Parker commented on the post: "Dearest Kim, my love and condolences to you and yours and Godspeed to your beloved brother." At first, Cattrall thanked her *Sex and the City* colleagues for their support. But on February 10, she published a follow-up post—one that immediately went viral around the world.



Cattrall's February 10, 2018 post became one of the most widely quoted statements in Hollywood feud history

"My Mom asked me today 'When will that @sarahjessicaparker, that hypocrite, leave you alone?' Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now. Let me make this VERY clear. (If I haven't already) You are not my family. You are not my friend. So I'm writing to tell you one last time to stop exploiting our tragedy in order to restore your 'nice girl' persona."

The word "hypocrite" dominated tabloid headlines worldwide within hours. Cattrall later clarified that her anger wasn't about the condolence itself, but about the years Parker had allegedly stood by while others mistreated her. Parker didn't respond directly, merely stating the situation was "painful." For her—and for the franchise—it shattered any remaining illusion of a real-life sisterhood among the four New Yorkers.

*And Just Like That...* Without Samantha

In January 2021, HBO Max announced a reboot titled *And Just Like That...*. Parker, Nixon, and Davis signed on. Cattrall did not. Samantha's absence was written off simply: she had moved to London and cut ties with Carrie following a professional falling-out.

Cattrall told *Variety* she wasn't even invited to join the reboot. "It's a great wisdom to know when enough is enough," she added. When a follower asked Parker on Instagram if she disliked Kim, Parker replied, "No, I don't dislike her." Neither actress ventured beyond carefully measured statements.



In Season 1 of *And Just Like That...*, Samantha existed only via text messages on Carrie's phone

Throughout Season 1, Samantha appeared strictly via text—brief messages Carrie read off her screen. Critics and fans were divided: while some accepted the explanation, others viewed Samantha's absence as the reboot's fatal flaw. Still, the show was renewed for a second season.

The Cameo Nobody Saw Coming

In May 2023, rumors leaked that Kim Cattrall would, after all, make a cameo in Season 2 of *And Just Like That...*. On March 22 of that year, she spent a single day on set—filming completely separately from Parker, Nixon, and Davis, without any interaction between them. Legendary costume designer Patricia Field, who dressed the original series, returned specifically to style Cattrall for the scene.

The Season 2 finale, "The Last Supper Part Two: Entrance," aired on August 24, 2023. In the opening minutes, as Carrie prepares for a farewell dinner in her apartment, her phone flashes "Samantha." Cattrall appears on screen in the back of a London cab: "My flight's delayed three hours, Carrie. I'm not going to be able to make it." The scene lasts roughly 90 seconds.



Cattrall's cameo in the Season 2 finale of *And Just Like That...* became one of the most talked-about TV moments of 2023

Samantha asks to be put on speaker to bid farewell to the apartment—calling it "a fabulous, fabulous flat." Showrunner Michael Patrick King later revealed that Cattrall kissing her phone at the end of the call was unscripted—an impromptu moment she created on set.

According to Cattrall, the cameo came about after a personal phone call from the head of HBO, who asked what it would take to make her comfortable and granted her every request. After shooting wrapped, she went home and enjoyed a dry martini. "Which is very Samantha," she remarked in an interview on *Today*.



Public appearances featuring both actresses became increasingly rare after 2010

Crucially, Cattrall and Parker were never in the same room—or frame. The scene was filmed in total isolation from the rest of the cast. While fans hoped it signaled a reconciliation, Cattrall set the record straight: "That is as far as I'm going to go." In July 2024, she confirmed she would not appear in Season 3 of *And Just Like That...*.

What It Reveals About the Industry

The story of Cattrall and Parker is more than just a celebrity feud. It exposed a common Hollywood dynamic in ensemble projects: one actor is implicitly anointed as the lead, while the rest are treated as background—even when audiences love them equally. Cattrall refused to play by those rules, paying the price in years of alienation, a reputation for being "difficult," and exclusion from the reboot.



Following their public fallout in 2018, Cattrall continued to thrive, starring in *Glamorous*, *How I Met Your Father*, and other projects

Yet she was the only one of the core four to dictate her own terms for a return. One scene, one day of shooting, zero contact with anyone she didn't want to see. And yet, she still stepped back into the shoes. Perhaps because Kim Cattrall is Samantha Jones at heart: someone who does exactly what she wants, on her own terms, without compromise.



Kim Cattrall today: the actress continues to work and grace red carpets strictly on her own terms

As Kim Cattrall turns 70, she lives in London, is married to Russell Thomas, and works and appears in public entirely on her own terms. Perhaps the best summary of how she navigated this entire feud comes from Samantha herself: "I love you, but I love me more."

Did you follow this feud in real time, or are you just learning about it now?

On-screen best friends who actually despised each other behind the scenes

10 TV couples whose relationships we cared about more than our own

19 of the most famous Canadian stars