Sarah Jessica Parker career in photos.Photo: New World Pictures/Getty; HBO / Courtesy Everett Collection; HBO
But with 45-plus years in the business and more than 60 acting credits under her belt according toIMDb, Parker has built quite the wide-ranging portfolio across both the big and small screens, and her roles BC (Before Carrie) and AD (After Deserting-Aidan) deserve some love — or at least some laughter — as well.
In honor of her 59th birthday on March 25, 2024, we’re looking back at some of SJP’s most iconic roles, from Sarah Sanderson to SanDeE*.
01of 27
Little Match Girl
Sarah Jessica Parker.Courtesy Everett Collection
Reminiscing on the role, Parker shareda throwback phototo Instagram in 2018, sharing that it was “when [her] love for acting was born.” She added, “those were 5 very happy days.”
02of 27AnnieSarah Jessica Parker.Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via GettyThree years after making her Broadway debut in 1976’s revival ofThe Innocents,Parker landed the title role in the musicalAnnie.
02of 27
Annie
Sarah Jessica Parker.Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
Three years after making her Broadway debut in 1976’s revival ofThe Innocents,Parker landed the title role in the musicalAnnie.
03of 27
My Body, My Child
Sarah Jessica Parker.Walt Disney Television via Getty
04of 27Square PegsSarah Jessica Parker.CBS via GettyWhile this 1982 classic high school sitcom only lasted one season, it’s worth including for Parker’s bangs alone. As nerdy freshmen at Weemawee High School, Patty (Parker) and her best friend Lauren (Amy Linker) desperately tried to fit in with the cool crowd.
04of 27
Square Pegs
Sarah Jessica Parker.CBS via Getty
While this 1982 classic high school sitcom only lasted one season, it’s worth including for Parker’s bangs alone. As nerdy freshmen at Weemawee High School, Patty (Parker) and her best friend Lauren (Amy Linker) desperately tried to fit in with the cool crowd.
05of 27FootlooseSarah Jessica Parker.IPOL-GLOBE PHOTOSParker initially turned down the role of Rusty in this 1984 cult classic, after she was asked to cut off her hair and dye it red to complement the character’s name.“I was like, ‘Oh God, my hair just grew back fromAnnie,’ " the actress explainedduring PEOPLE’s The Jess Cagle Interviewin 2016.“I couldn’t imagine cutting my hair off and dying it red again, and being a redhead didn’t really suit me, so I passed, and they hired Tracy Nelson.“When things didn’t work out with Nelson, they ultimately called Parker back and agreed not to change her hair.
05of 27
Footloose
Sarah Jessica Parker.IPOL-GLOBE PHOTOS
Parker initially turned down the role of Rusty in this 1984 cult classic, after she was asked to cut off her hair and dye it red to complement the character’s name.
“I was like, ‘Oh God, my hair just grew back fromAnnie,’ " the actress explainedduring PEOPLE’s The Jess Cagle Interviewin 2016.
“I couldn’t imagine cutting my hair off and dying it red again, and being a redhead didn’t really suit me, so I passed, and they hired Tracy Nelson.”
When things didn’t work out with Nelson, they ultimately called Parker back and agreed not to change her hair.
06of 27Girls Just Want to Have FunSarah Jessica Parker.AlamyParker and Helen Hunt were an excellent combo in this absolutely bizarre and overall delightful ’80s rom-com, which functioned partly as a coming-of-age movie and partly as an extended dance party.
06of 27
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Sarah Jessica Parker.Alamy
Parker and Helen Hunt were an excellent combo in this absolutely bizarre and overall delightful ’80s rom-com, which functioned partly as a coming-of-age movie and partly as an extended dance party.
07of 27
A Year in the Life
Sarah Jessica Parker.NBCU Photo Bank
08of 27
L.A. Story
“Big S, small A, small N, big D, small E, big E. And there’s a little star at the end.” As one of Steve Martin’s several love interests in this 1991 movie, Parker played a very tan and very vapid model named - andmore importantly, spelled- SanDeE*.
09of 27In the Best Interest of the ChildrenSarah Jessica Parker.Alice S. Hall/NBC/NBCU Photo BankIn this heartwrenching, if not over-dramatic, NBC fact-based drama, Parker played a young mother of five struggling with bipolar disorder who fights for custody over her children.
09of 27
In the Best Interest of the Children
Sarah Jessica Parker.Alice S. Hall/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
In this heartwrenching, if not over-dramatic, NBC fact-based drama, Parker played a young mother of five struggling with bipolar disorder who fights for custody over her children.
10of 27
Honeymoon in Vegas
If Sophie Turner andJoe Jonas’sjubilant Las Vegas weddingwasn’t enough to inspire you to head over to the chapel, perhaps the nuptials (and beaded ensembles) of Parker’s Betsy and Nicolas Cage’s Jack might do the trick.
11of 27Hocus PocusSarah Jessica Parker.Disney/Kobal/ShutterstockHopefully you didn’t forget Parker’s memorable turn as the wicked, boy-crazy Sarah Sanderson in this 1993 Disney Halloween classic — but if you did, your Spooky Season must-watch list just got a little bit longer.
11of 27
Hocus Pocus
Sarah Jessica Parker.Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Hopefully you didn’t forget Parker’s memorable turn as the wicked, boy-crazy Sarah Sanderson in this 1993 Disney Halloween classic — but if you did, your Spooky Season must-watch list just got a little bit longer.
12of 27
Striking Distance
Sarah Jessica Parker.Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
13of 27
Ed Wood
Sarah Jessica Parker.Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
14of 27Miami RhapsodySarah Jessica Parker.Mike Weinstein/Hollywood/Cantaloupe/Kobal/ShutterstockSJP’s had quite the lineup of onscreen lovers throughout her career, and her dalliance with Antonio Banderas as the already-engaged and commitment-phobic Gwyn in this 1995 film was a particularly fun one.
14of 27
Miami Rhapsody
Sarah Jessica Parker.Mike Weinstein/Hollywood/Cantaloupe/Kobal/Shutterstock
SJP’s had quite the lineup of onscreen lovers throughout her career, and her dalliance with Antonio Banderas as the already-engaged and commitment-phobic Gwyn in this 1995 film was a particularly fun one.
15of 27If Lucy FellSarah Jessica Parker.Mpca/Tri-Star/Kobal/ShutterstockYes, that is Ben Stiller with dreadlocks, and yes, we are as shocked as you are. 1996 was a different time!
15of 27
If Lucy Fell
Sarah Jessica Parker.Mpca/Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock
Yes, that is Ben Stiller with dreadlocks, and yes, we are as shocked as you are. 1996 was a different time!
16of 27First Wives ClubSarah Jessica Parker.Paramount/Kobal/ShutterstockIn this beloved star-studded comedy about three scorned women getting back at their ex-husbands, Parker nailed the role of Shelly, the young new love interest of Brenda’s (Hocus Pocuscostar Bette Midler) ex-husband.
16of 27
First Wives Club
Sarah Jessica Parker.Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
In this beloved star-studded comedy about three scorned women getting back at their ex-husbands, Parker nailed the role of Shelly, the young new love interest of Brenda’s (Hocus Pocuscostar Bette Midler) ex-husband.
17of 27Mars Attacks!Sarah Jessica Parker.Bruce Talamon/Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockIn perhaps her most bizarre role, Parker played abducted talk show host Nathalie in her second Tim Burton-directed flick, which featured Martians wreaking havoc on Earth as well as some aspirational futuristic fashion.
17of 27
Mars Attacks!
Sarah Jessica Parker.Bruce Talamon/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
In perhaps her most bizarre role, Parker played abducted talk show host Nathalie in her second Tim Burton-directed flick, which featured Martians wreaking havoc on Earth as well as some aspirational futuristic fashion.
18of 27Mars Attacks!Sarah Jessica Parker.ILM/Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockThis wacky movie gets two slides, because these are crazy times and we all needed to see an alien lurking behind Parker’s floating embalmed head.
18of 27
Sarah Jessica Parker.ILM/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
This wacky movie gets two slides, because these are crazy times and we all needed to see an alien lurking behind Parker’s floating embalmed head.
19of 27
Dudley Do-Right
Sarah Jessica Parker.Doane Gregory/Davis Ent/Todd Singer Ent/Kobal/Shutterstock
20of 27The Family StoneSarah Jessica Parker.20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockThis photo alone should be motive enough to watch (or re-watch) this movie. Is there anything more endearing than Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton and SJP cracking up together post-wipeout over a spilled Christmas dinner? (The answer is no, there is not.)
20of 27
The Family Stone
Sarah Jessica Parker.20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
This photo alone should be motive enough to watch (or re-watch) this movie. Is there anything more endearing than Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton and SJP cracking up together post-wipeout over a spilled Christmas dinner? (The answer is no, there is not.)
21of 27Failure to LaunchSarah Jessica Parker.Paramount/courtesy Everett CollectionHired as a “professional motivator” to help draw 35-year-old Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) out of living with his parents, Parker’s Paula “simulates” a romantic relationship before falling for her target in this classic 2006 rom-com.
21of 27
Failure to Launch
Sarah Jessica Parker.Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection
Hired as a “professional motivator” to help draw 35-year-old Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) out of living with his parents, Parker’s Paula “simulates” a romantic relationship before falling for her target in this classic 2006 rom-com.
22of 27Spinning into ButterSarah Jessica Parker.With brown hair and glasses, Parker looks nearly unrecognizable as a new dean of students in this high-stakes drama about racial tensions at a New England college based on Rebecca Gilman’s play of the same name.
22of 27
Spinning into Butter
Sarah Jessica Parker.
With brown hair and glasses, Parker looks nearly unrecognizable as a new dean of students in this high-stakes drama about racial tensions at a New England college based on Rebecca Gilman’s play of the same name.
23of 27Smart PeopleSarah Jessica Parker.Grosvenor Park Prods/Groundswell Prods/Kobal/ShutterstockA professor dating his former student may be a bit of a tired trope at this point, but if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it with Dennis Quaid and Parker.
23of 27
Smart People
Sarah Jessica Parker.Grosvenor Park Prods/Groundswell Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock
A professor dating his former student may be a bit of a tired trope at this point, but if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it with Dennis Quaid and Parker.
24of 27
I Don’t Know How She Does It
Sarah Jessica Parker.Weinstein Co/Kobal/Shutterstock
25of 27DivorceSarah Jessica Parker.HBOThe Queen of HBO returns! Twelve years afterSATCended, the Golden Globe winner starred in and executive producedDivorceon the network for three seasons, bringing the actress back into our lives on a weekly basis through the show’s end in 2019.
25of 27
Divorce
Sarah Jessica Parker.HBO
The Queen of HBO returns! Twelve years afterSATCended, the Golden Globe winner starred in and executive producedDivorceon the network for three seasons, bringing the actress back into our lives on a weekly basis through the show’s end in 2019.
26of 27Here and NowSarah Jessica Parker.Ambi Media Group /Courtesy Everett CollectionThis 2018 drama saw Parker back on the big screen as a New York-based singer who spends the day wandering the city while contemplating her mortality after learning of a devastating diagnosis.
26of 27
Here and Now
Sarah Jessica Parker.Ambi Media Group /Courtesy Everett Collection
This 2018 drama saw Parker back on the big screen as a New York-based singer who spends the day wandering the city while contemplating her mortality after learning of a devastating diagnosis.
27of 27Sex and the CitySarah Jessica Parker.HBO/ Courtesy: Everett CollectionI’ll bet you couldn’t help but wonder when I’d get around to Carrie Bradshaw. A bona fide cultural and style icon (not to mention the inspiration behind droves of young women moving to Manhattan in search of a writing gig that could pay for a walk-in closet full of … actually, just a walk-in closet would be great), Carrie is not a role that’s easily forgotten.SATCmay have been a small screen gem, but it had a ‘Big’ (ha…) impact on Parker and her costars' careers, garnering 54 award nominations and several wins over the years. While some of the topics and references can seem dated or even offensive now, the beloved show, which ran from 1998-2004, pushed and broke the boundaries of mainstream television at the time with candid expressions of female sexuality and friendships.Parker brought the character — plus Miranda, Charlotte and some new faces — back in 2021 on the HBO Max revival,And Just Like That …Though reviews were mixed, the series wasrenewed for a second season.
27of 27
Sex and the City
Sarah Jessica Parker.HBO/ Courtesy: Everett Collection
I’ll bet you couldn’t help but wonder when I’d get around to Carrie Bradshaw. A bona fide cultural and style icon (not to mention the inspiration behind droves of young women moving to Manhattan in search of a writing gig that could pay for a walk-in closet full of … actually, just a walk-in closet would be great), Carrie is not a role that’s easily forgotten.
SATCmay have been a small screen gem, but it had a ‘Big’ (ha…) impact on Parker and her costars’ careers, garnering 54 award nominations and several wins over the years. While some of the topics and references can seem dated or even offensive now, the beloved show, which ran from 1998-2004, pushed and broke the boundaries of mainstream television at the time with candid expressions of female sexuality and friendships.
Parker brought the character — plus Miranda, Charlotte and some new faces — back in 2021 on the HBO Max revival,And Just Like That …Though reviews were mixed, the series wasrenewed for a second season.
source: people.com
