It's hard to imagine what pop culture today would look like without Sex and the City. As one of HBO's most successful TV series ever, it dramatically changed the cultural landscape, affecting the way we talk about relationships, female friendships and even fashion...
So it's surprising to know that the show's star, Sarah Jessica Parker, almost quit the series after just the pilot episode. After all, if SJP is synonymous with any of the characters that she's played over her 30-year career, it's Carrie Bradshaw.
SJP filmed the first episode but swiftly forgot about it. When a fan stopped her on the street to congratulate her on the role, she freaked out, suddenly conscious that she might be sacrificing film roles by committing to starring in a TV series.
“When I did the pilot, I didn’t think it was going to change my life at all except that when they picked it up — or when I was reminded I did it, frankly,” she told The Jess Cagle Interview. "I was like, 'I don't know if I think I want to do that. Is there a way to not do that?' I met my agents in L.A.—Kevin Huvane—and I was like, 'Do you think maybe I could not do this now?' Because I wanted to keep doing a play and doing a movie and doing a play. So, the way I thought it was going to change my life was that it was going to like hold me hostage to a commitment."
So is the actress glad she stuck it out through six series and two films now? You bet she is.
"It was the happiest, it was the most productive, fulfilling professional experience I could have imagined."
SEE MORE: Sarah Jessica Parker reveals her biggest fashion regret