Kim Cattrall, who famously turned down Sex and the City four times before agreeing to play the iconic Samantha Jones.
The actress reflected on her early acting days with honesty and humour at the Tribeca Festival Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal.
The British-Canadian-American actress recalled how her first audition after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City filled her with fear.
“To go out to the real world, where people could say no, was terrifying to me,” Cattrall shared while discussing her journey as an actor.
Long before she became known for her fearless role in Sex and the City, Cattrall faced a series of auditions that left her disillusioned.
“I was so disappointed that they were asking so little of me, other than to cry or to be hurt or emotionally unstable or drunk,” she said of the early film and television roles offered to her. Coming from a theater background where she portrayed strong and complex women, the contrast was stark.
Still, she learned resilience and perspective. “If I didn’t get the role, it might not have been meant for me to play, which was a positive thing for a young actor to do,” she noted.
Now, with years of experience behind her, Cattrall says she has grown to fully embrace her craft. “I love my job. I love it. It’s difficult, it’s complicated, but when it goes well, it’s so satisfying,” she said.
Reflecting on fame and fulfillment, she added, “It’s your work, but people’s opinions of me are none of my business. I don’t want to know.”
