Sarah Jessica Parker was born March 25, 1965, in Nelsonville, Ohio,
to parents Stephen Parker and Barbra Forste (who remarried Paul
Forste after divorcing Sarah's father). After her mother wed
Forste, Sarah, her two brothers and her sister, joined Forste's
four children. Trained in singing and ballet, Sarah was cast in the
Broadway production of "The Innocents," which prompted her family
to relocate to New Jersey. Already a professional performer (she
studied at the American Ballet School and the Professional
Children's School), Sarah was cast in "The Sound of Music" (along
with four of her siblings), and landed the lead in the Broadway run
of "Annie." After a year as the free-spirited orphan, Sarah
attended Dwight Morrow High School, while continuing to add more
credits to her acting resume. She landed a role in the made-for-TV
movie _My Body, My Child (1982) (TV)_ (qv), before being cast as
one of the lead roles in the 1982 sitcom _"Square Pegs" (1982)_
(qv), as high-schooler Patty Green. Once a graduate, Sarah decided
to pursue a full-time acting career rather than further her
education. Since _"Square Pegs" (1982)_ (qv) didn't last more than
a year, Sarah moved on to supporting film roles in movies such as
_Footloose (1984)_ (qv), _Firstborn (1984)_ (qv), and the lead role
in the teenage film _Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)_ (qv).
Sarah was having lots of fun, although she had yet to land a
star-turning role. After more television appearances in series and
made-for-TV movies including _"Year in the Life, A" (1987) (mini)_
(qv), _Room Upstairs, The (1987) (TV)_ (qv) and _Dadah Is Death
(1988) (TV)_ (qv), Sarah finally landed the role of 'Steve Martin'
(qv)'s bubbly lover in the 1991 comedy _L.A. Story (1991)_ (qv).
More substantial film roles soon followed, starting with a role
opposite 'Nicolas Cage' (qv) in _Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)_ (qv)
(which foreshadowed her comedic talent), _Hocus Pocus (1993)_ (qv)
and _Ed Wood (1994)_ (qv). A big 'Woody Allen' (qv) fan, she
starred opposite the renowned filmmaker in the TV movie _Sunshine
Boys, The (1995) (TV)_ (qv), and that same year, she landed a
starring role in _Miami Rhapsody (1995)_ (qv). 1996 was a film
intensive year with roles in _First Wives Club, The (1996)_ (qv),
_If Lucy Fell (1996)_ (qv), and _Mars Attacks! (1996)_ (qv). All
the while making a name for herself in film, Sarah was gaining
respect as a theater actress, with her lead role as a dog (hard to
imagine, but true) in the off-Broadway "Sylvia," and her Broadway
roles in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
(starring her present husband, 'Matthew Broderick' (qv)), and the
Tony-Award nominated "Once Upon a Mattress." But Sarah's star has
shot up since her portrayal of Manhattan sex-columnist Carrie
Bradshaw in the HBO series _"Sex and the City" (1998)_ (qv).
Sarah's Golden Globe Best Actress victory in 2000 only underscores
the fact that she plays the role of Carrie as though it were
literally written for her. Sarah has been happily married to fellow
actor 'Matthew Broderick' (qv) for quite a while now. Before the
marriage, she dated 'Robert Downey Jr.' (qv) (who she also lived
with), and the late 'John Kennedy Jr.' (qv) When not serving as
lead actress and producer of _"Sex and the City" (1998)_ (qv),
Sarah is a member of Hollywood's Women's Political Committee, and
is UNICEF's representative for the Performing Arts.
|
|