Cynthia Nixon On the Good, the Bad and the Cringe of 'Sex and the City'

Grazia USA

6 days ago

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon attends the Broadway opening night of 'Our Town' at the Barrymore Theatre, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by)
There are very few pieces of media that can stand the test of time two decades on, and according to Cynthia Nixon, Sex and the City is no exception.
The cult show, which ran from 1998 to 2004, ruled TV screens, and the age-old question of whether you are a Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, or Miranda still lives on. Yet, according to Nixon, there are facets of the cultural goliath that may be better left behind. The cast of Sex And The City ('The Caste System' episode). L-R: Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker. 1999 Paramount Pictures
'It was always very difficult being on a show that was so white,' she told Grazia UK this week. 'I always hated that. When we would raise it, we were told; This is Candace Bushnell's world [the writer on whom the show is based] and it's a very white world. I'm like, OK…'
'Some of the trans stuff, some of the gay stuff was a little cringy to look at,' she lamented in retrospect.
Her critique comes with credentials, as Nixon, who is part of the LGBTQ+ community herself, is no stranger to socio-political activism. She previously ran for New York Governor for the Democratic Socialists of America, has been actively advocating for Palestine, and just this month, she was seen at a Hands Off protest in New York City, among many other avenues of activism. Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon greets New Yorkers during the petitioning parade for New York State Governor, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by)
Though her appraisal comes with praise, too. Despite its shortcomings, Nixon stands by the show's representation of women.
'[It's] a feminist show,' she continued. 'It's always been a feminist show… You can be a woman; you can have a lot of sex with a lot of different people.'
When discussing its refreshingly open portrayal of sex, the actress believes the enduring fanfare is warranted.
'It didn't make you a slut and it didn't mean you were using sex to get something,' she said. 'You were having sex because you enjoyed having sex!'
Further, the character of Miranda herself seems to have only gotten more appreciation for her feminist ethos as the show has aged. NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 10: Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker are seen filming 'And Just Like That…' on June 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
'Stuff she was ballyhooing from the rooftops, I think, became common wisdom,' Nixon noted.
'The culture did sort of move to meet where Miranda was standing.'
However, she also added, reflecting on the current climate, 'Of course, in America, and I think in many places, the world is moving again… away from a lot of the feminist ideas that Miranda had.'
With its continued relevancy, it is no wonder the franchise has resulted in multiple theatrical releases and its latest iteration, the And Just Like That spinoff series. Nixon stars in the series alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis from the original show, with season 3 premiering this week. Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon are seen on the set of 'And Just Like That…' on July 20, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)
topics: Sex and the city, cynthia nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, kristin davis, And Just Like That, celebrity, tv shows, Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Samantha Jones, kim cattrall, celebrity news, film, Film + TV, entertainment