In a cover story interview with PEOPLE in 2018, award-winning actress Sarah Jessica Parker opened up about a time when she was almost coerced into doing a nude scene on set. However, amid the strong pressure and the tears streaming down her face, she stood up for herself and refused to do it.
The river has never run dry when it comes to nudity in TV shows and films. It has become a staple scene, arguably even a significant one, in any storyline. Even now, one of the most popular ones is Sex and the City.
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As Marie Claire-Chappet of Harper’s Bazaar said, the series was “an illicit substance; late night TV that was scandalous, naughty and, of course, all the more enticing for it.” Many had the same origin story of getting caught up and entangled in this world: tempted by the raunchy sex scenes and the glimpses of life in The Big Apple.
Despite the provocative theme of the show, Sarah Jessica Parker, who played the charismatic Carrie Bradshaw, never took off her clothes. The star has always been vocal and clear about her stance on on-screen nudity. She did clarify that it wasn’t a “value thing,” nor a case of her judging anyone who did so.
“I just never dug it. I think it’s great when women feel comfortable doing it, and that’s their choice,” the actress explained.
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Of course, that doesn’t mean she was never challenged to do so. Early in her career, she once found herself in a position where she ended up sobbing due to the pressure to go nude. She never named the project and was reminded of it when she ran into a woman who also worked in the same movie.
The woman said she remembered Sarah Jessica Parker sobbing when told she would be nude for a scene the next day. She stood up for herself and said no. She didn’t know if she had the confidence to say that or if people counseled her.
Thankfully, her agent, CAA’s Kevin Huane, stepped in. Even before anything started, he had already told her, “If anybody makes you do anything that you’re not comfortable doing, you don’t.”
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The actress also acknowledged that she knew how lucky she was that someone backed her up, especially after she heard the stories of other women like her during that time who had been exploited and harassed. (The comment was in the context of the string of sexual harassment scandals that came after allegations of abuse and harassment against Harvey Weinstein took over the news.)
This decision to refuse a nude scene may have been risky for Sarah Jessica Parker’s career then. However, it cemented her reputation as a respected actress who would not be forced into compromising situations.