20+ Years Later: Shocking Facts About ‘’Sex and the City’’ You Probably Didn’t Know (or Forgot)

Remember when a flower on your head was the height of fashion and “mani-pedis” could settle an argument? Get ready to be surprised. The legendary series that taught us the difference between Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo — and proved that talking about sex and relationships isn’t shameful, but necessary — turns out to have even more secrets behind the scenes. Yes, we all aged along with Jim Carrey, and yes, it’s a little annoying.

Now, let’s peek behind the curtain of this beautiful madness!
Spoiler: Samantha was almost played by someone else, and Carrie’s cheapest dress became her most iconic.

1. It all started with a column her parents read — without realizing it was about their daughter

Candace Bushnell wrote candid essays for The New York Observer, exposing the glamorous chaos of New York’s social life. She later compiled them into a book, transforming her first-person confessions into the fictional musings of one Carrie Bradshaw — her alter ego. The best part? Her parents read the book without realizing the main character was their daughter. Imagine those family dinners once they found out!

Insider note: Bushnell sold the rights to her tell-all for just $60,000 — about the cost of a single Birkin bag today (with a markup).

2. Sarah Jessica Parker desperately didn’t want to be Carrie

Yes, the fashion icon who seems born in Dior and stilettos initially refused the role. Parker feared the series would destroy her film and theater career. Producer Darren Star had to work hard to convince her. Hard to imagine now what might have been if she had said a firm “no.”

3. The backup Carrie: Lisa Edelstein. And Charlotte could have been… anyone

If Parker had held her ground, the role would have gone to Lisa Edelstein — later famous as Dr. Cuddy on House M.D. Meanwhile, Kristin Davis originally auditioned for Carrie! It quickly became clear she was perfect as Charlotte — the idealistic romantic of the group. Fun fact: Charlotte’s character was meant to appear in just a few episodes, but became one of the show’s pillars.

4. Kristin Davis hid the show from her grandmother

Terrified that her conservative family — especially her grandmother — would find out what kind of series she was on, Davis forbade her parents from watching it. Her grandmother passed away never knowing the truth. Later, Davis’s father, a psychology professor, not only watched the show but used it in his lectures. Quite a twist!

5. Kim Cattrall said “no” to Samantha — twice

Finding someone to play the boldest, most liberated woman on TV wasn’t easy. Cattrall, older than the other leads, turned the role down twice before finally agreeing. She later admitted she was shocked to be offered such a sexually confident character at her age — she’d expected to be cast as someone’s mom instead.

6. Mr. Big was real — sort of

The charming, elusive Big was based on Ron Galotti, a former GQ publisher and Candace Bushnell’s real-life ex. And no — their story didn’t end like it did on screen.

7. Carrie’s most expensive dress cost as much as a small car

In season six, Carrie waits for Aleksandr Petrovsky by a fountain wearing an extravagant Versace gown valued at $80,000 — about the cost of a small Manhattan apartment rental for a few years.

8. Her cheapest dress cost $5 — and became iconic

The famous tulle skirt Carrie twirls in during the opening credits? Costume designer Patricia Field found it in a bargain bin for five dollars. In 2021, the same skirt was auctioned for thousands. A better investment than Apple stock, perhaps.

9. None of the women ever wore the same outfit twice — ever!

Costume designers worked tirelessly to ensure every look was unique. The only exception: Carrie’s fur vest from the early seasons, which reappears nostalgically in the finale.

10. The Vivienne Westwood wedding gown came with a handwritten note

Remember that poofy wedding dress? It was personally made and sent by Vivienne Westwood herself — complete with a note: “With love and best wishes, Vivienne.” Now that’s haute couture hospitality.

11. The shoes were literally glued to her feet

For the final Paris scene, where Carrie runs across the cobblestones to Big, Parker’s heels were super-glued to her feet to prevent slipping. Beauty hurts — and she wore those heels up to 18 hours a day. Let’s give her a standing ovation.

12. The show didn’t just break ratings — it launched a cupcake craze

One scene of Carrie and Miranda eating cupcakes triggered a worldwide baking boom. Bakeries still thank ‘’Sex and the City’’ for the free publicity.

13. The Tiffany window was fake

That dreamy scene where Trey proposes to Charlotte in front of Tiffany’s window? A fake. The real Tiffany & Co. refused filming for security reasons, so the crew built a replica.

14. Matthew McConaughey was the fourth choice to play himself

In season three, McConaughey appears as a movie-star version of himself. But before he accepted, Alec Baldwin, George Clooney, and Warren Beatty all said no. Hard to imagine now.

15. Mikhail Baryshnikov joined the cast thanks to Sarah Jessica Parker’s persistence

Casting the legendary dancer as Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovsky sparked debate. Parker insisted: “Mikhail is extraordinary. He’s unlike anyone we’ve ever had on the show.”

16. Sarah and Kim really didn’t get along

Rumors of tension between Parker and Cattrall persisted for years. Parker tried to deny them, but multiple accounts — including memoirs — confirm there was no real friendship between them. Unlike Carrie and Samantha, their off-screen relationship was… complicated.

17. Chris Noth’s favorite scene? The “bedroom gas” moment

Noth proudly claimed he personally oversaw the sound effects for the scene where Carrie “breaks wind” in bed — calling himself “an expert in the field.” Dream men, indeed.

18. The Central Park pond fall was shot in one take — and earned Parker a tetanus shot

That endearingly clumsy scene of Carrie and Big falling into the water? Perfect in one take. But Parker cut her foot and needed an immediate tetanus shot. Art demands sacrifice — again.

19. ‘’Sex and the City’’ was the first cable series to win an Emmy for Best Comedy

Initially dismissed as too risqué, the HBO show went on to win 7 Emmys, 8 Golden Globes, and 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Kristin Davis remains the only lead actress who never received an individual award — a true injustice.

20. Carrie asked exactly 92 questions in her columns

Over six seasons, she posed 92 questions in her writing. The final one was rhetorical: “Maybe it’s time to stop asking?”
The series finale was filmed just four days before it aired — something unthinkable today. Back then, it was pure, last-minute magic.

This wasn’t just a TV show — it was a cultural phenomenon, a style manual, and a mirror of its time. Outdated in some ways, timeless in others — especially in its lessons on friendship, self-discovery, and love.

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