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Kim Cattrall on 'The Boomer List' & the Lasting Legacy of "Sex And The City"

Kim Cattrall on 'The Boomer List' & the Lasting Legacy of "Sex And The City"

2:43·By Gemma G
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YH is at the New York premiere of the documentary 'The Boomer List' where we catch up with the one and only Kim Cattrall, who shares her thoughts on the lasting legacy of her now-iconic HBO series "Sex and the City"! She also talks about how playing Samantha inspired her to write a book, plus she tells us about her Canadian series "Sensitive Skin" and what advice she would give to herself when she was just starting out! 'The Boomer List' is available to stream at pbs.org/americanmasters DVD available now at ShopTHIRTEEN.org & ShopPBS.org

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Young Hollywood

Baruch here in New York and the baby boomers are booming here at the premiere of the Boomer List, where I just caught up with Kim Cattrall. Now, we actually met when I was 14 years old and you gave me this autograph. And this is the autograph that got me through my adolescence, so thank you.

Kim Cattrall

Oh my god.

Young Hollywood

I have saved this in a plastic for 12, 13 years. In plastic.

Kim Cattrall

Oh yes. Very, very sanitary.

Young Hollywood

And on the other side, Candace Bushnell wrote a note when I was 14 saying the real Mr. Big. Oh that's these two notes got me through everything.

Kim Cattrall

That's sweet.

Young Hollywood

Now, of course, you're working on so many projects and yet we keep getting re-introduced to you on Sex and the City because it's always on TV. Do you ever stop and re-watch any of the episodes?

Kim Cattrall

I have. And what I come away with is how much fun it is. It really is. Even to watch it, I, I think about the day we shot it and what was going on and the memory of it, but also just to take it at face value as just an audience member, it's just so much fun.

Young Hollywood

Why do you think it continues to resonate with so many people of all ages?

Kim Cattrall

Well, I think it's very well written. And I like to think it's well played and uh, it speaks about issues that I think people are dealing with, which is um, being single and getting attached and uh, feeling vulnerable. And those were what those girls were going through. They also were about having fun and depending on each other and I think it's a Valentine to women, to friendships and also to New York.

Young Hollywood

Did you find that your character really influenced you off-screen?

Kim Cattrall

I think that she made me a little bolder in certain areas. I don't think I would have um, written a book about uh, sexual satisfaction if I hadn't played Samantha. But there were other things that I think I led the way for in some ways to inspire women maybe in a different way. But it it all comes back to, I think, playing, having an opportunity to play somebody who's very different. Is a, it breaks the mold of what is expected of how a woman should be or a man should be. And it it doesn't reinvent it, but it gives it a very specific singular point of view. And uh, that's that's the moment that you wait for as an actor is a role like that.

Young Hollywood

Now, with Sensitive Skin, of course, you're back in Canada where you grew up. How does that feel?

Kim Cattrall

Oh, it was wonderful to make Sensitive Skin. We did six episodes. It's an adaptation of a British series, uh, called Sensitive Skin. And it's about a couple going through a woman's midlife crisis. It's a half-hour dark comedy and I'm very proud of it.

Young Hollywood

What piece of advice would you give Kim Cattrall 20 years ago, 30 years ago, just starting out on her career?

Kim Cattrall

I think um, what I would say it's going to be okay. It's going to it's going to turn out fine. Relax.

Young Hollywood

Good advice.

Kim Cattrall

Yeah.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Kim Cattrall

    Main interview subject, discussing her career and projects.

  • Candace Bushnell

    Mentioned by the interviewer for an autograph note.

  • Samantha Jones

    Character played by Kim Cattrall in 'Sex and the City'.

FAQ

What is 'The Boomer List'?+
'The Boomer List' is a documentary being premiered, which Kim Cattrall attended.
Why does 'Sex and the City' still resonate with audiences?+
Kim Cattrall believes 'Sex and the City' resonates because it's well-written and well-played, addressing universal issues like being single, vulnerability, female friendships, and celebrating New York.
How did playing Samantha Jones influence Kim Cattrall?+
Kim Cattrall states that playing Samantha Jones made her bolder in certain areas and inspired her to write a book about sexual satisfaction.
What is Kim Cattrall's series 'Sensitive Skin' about?+
'Sensitive Skin' is a Canadian adaptation of a British series, described as a half-hour dark comedy about a couple experiencing a woman's midlife crisis.
What advice would Kim Cattrall give her younger self?+
Kim Cattrall would advise her younger self to relax, telling her, "It's going to be okay. It's going to turn out fine."

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