Before the great and powerful Olivia Pope, there was Carrie Bradshaw. Manolo Blahniks click-clacking on the sidewalk runways of New York City, Prada falling perfectly careless off her shoulder, a full head of wild blonde curls, piercingly honest blue eyes and that fragile, yet determined heart–Carrie Bradshaw was an archetype of the oxymoronic life of a New York City girl.
Today, the woman who played Carrie with such voracity over 94 episodes and two feature films, Sarah Jessica Parker, is turning 48. In order to properly celebrate SJP, we want to reminisce on her most iconic role in her career, New York Star “Sex & The City” columnist, Carrie Bradshaw.
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Join us as we remember our own favorite moments in Carrie’s timeline of dating disasters, major heartbreaks, bad kissers, momma’s boys and more.
Big & Carrie’s Happy Ending In Paris
“It took me a really long time to get here, (insert long pause) but I’m here!” Says the man who broke my heart. Oh wait, we’re talking about Carrie right, LOL.
When “Sex And The City” aired on HBO, I was going beyond broke paying for my son’s private schooling, and couldn’t imagine spending not a single dime on premium cable. I heard the buzz about the show for a few years, but it never mattered to me–that is, until the first movie was released. So one rainy weekend, my besties sat me down for a “SATC” weekend long marathon, equipped with bottles of cheap wine, that stretched well past that weekend.
I was convinced that the writers had torn a few pages out of my diary and built their characters around my life. Minus the VOGUE byline, and Manolo Blahniks with a swanky closet to match, Carrie was so me. Head over heels for a man who wasn’t quite ready yet, all while battling the judgement-filled love of her best friends.
In the end Carrie got Big, and so did I. I own the “SATC” 20-disc complete set and I go back to this scene often. Few will know what it’s like to fight for love, give up on love and have the same love find you again. I would do it all again for the love I’ve found. I wonder if Carrie would too?
Aidan Taught Carrie How To Be In A Grown-Up Relationship
Despite getting weak in the knees whenever Carrie’s soul mate, Big would walk into a room, I didn’t want her with him. Big represented what was wrong with men for me–uncommitted, fly-by-night, cocky and acted on convenience. He was the worst. Granted, seeing them together in the end–watching him go all the way to Paris to get his girl warmed my heart, but it was Aidan who made Carrie a woman.
At the beginning of their relationship, he supported her attempt to quit smoking and didn’t condemn her when she failed. He lifted her up and allowed her to grow up, despite herself. Their relationship rivaled what she had with Big, but Aidan never had bad intentions. Where Big could never stay focused on just one woman, Aidan proposed and wanted Carrie to himself almost from the moment he met her. Their love conquered an affair, an addiction and merging their lives into one NYC apartment. Carrie and Aidan’s relationship taught me how to not let every little thing break you up. Learning how to work through the hurt to bring you back to love is damn near impossible sometimes, but it was refreshing that Aidan was always willing to try.
Carrie Walks Away From Big
“Then I had a thought…maybe I didn’t break Big. Maybe the problem was, he couldn’t break me. Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed. Maybe some women are meant to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with.” -Carrie Bradshaw
Carrie had been through hell and back (and hell again) with Big. So when Big got married to Natasha, despite all the craziness, she still loved him and was hurt. Hell, I was hurt and I was 16 when this originally aired on HBO. But what I liked most about this particular moment was Carrie thought for a moment, maybe she wasn’t wrong. Maybe it was him! I can’t speak for other Janes, but I know whenever a relationship goes sour with a guy I’m dating, I automatically believe it’s my fault. “I wasn’t smart enough. I wasn’t cute enough. I wasn’t fun enough. I didn’t give him enough space.” Blah Blah Blah. So to see Carrie finally be wise enough to realize she shouldn’t shoulder all the blame, especially with someone as tumultuous as Big, I was proud! It gave me confidence! Walking away from a great love is never easy, but it’s better than staying with someone who isn’t worth it. Big married Natasha, a woman more demure, tame and with less fire. Carrie (and I) are not those kind of women and it’s hard to not feel rejected when a man takes the easier route. But when Carrie sashayed away in that silk figure hugging dress serving all kinds of attitude and confidence, they both knew Big was the one settling…not Ms. Bradshaw.
Carrie Curses Big
When Carrie Bradshaw leaped onto the sidewalk and her Manolos glided through the air like they had wings glued at the heel, I just knew that is who I wanted to be when I grew up. All dressed up with somewhere important to go.
Carrie and I share more than just an addiction for pointy-toed shoes. Like me, she is a writer and in love with a man who has pierced her heart over and over again. Carrie understands what it is to hurt and only feel whole in the arms of the man who delivered the blow.
One of my favorite “Sex And The City” scenes is where Carrie finally curses out Mr. Big. I am familiar with not only Mr Big’s kind but, more attached to the feeling of let down, he and all men like him, bring. In one particular episode, Carrie mustered enough courage to tell Mr. Big what she should have told him years ago. She screamed at the top of her lungs, unafraid of who might hear, just hoping the person in front of her couldn’t be deaf to it all. I lived vicariously through Carrie. I still do. She understands what it’s like to have all the answers on paper, but none in life. “Carrie might be happy, it’s time to sweep and sh*t all over it.”
What is YOUR favorite Carrie moment? Share with us!
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