Sarah Jessica Parker celebrates her 61st birthday, while the industry is still buzzing from her recent Carol Burnett Award win at the Golden Globes. The honor recognized her massive contributions to television, but it also served as a reminder of her incredible range. While the shadow of Carrie Bradshaw looms large, Parker has spent decades inhabiting characters that are a far cry from the glittering streets of Manhattan. If you’ve only ever seen her in a tutu, it’s time to update your watchlist. Here are five roles where you can see a completely different side of SJP.
Sarah Sanderson in ‘Hocus Pocus’ (1993 and 2022)
Long before she was a style icon, Parker was a scene-stealing siren in this Disney Halloween staple. As Sarah Sanderson, the youngest and most dim-witted of the witchy sisters, she showcased a flair for physical comedy and a surprisingly hypnotic singing voice. Her performance of “Come Little Children” remains a cult classic moment, and her return for the 2022 sequel proved that she could still inhabit the character’s bubbly, chaotic energy thirty years later with effortless charm.
Meredith Morton in ‘The Family Stone’ (2005)
In this seasonal dramedy, Parker shed her “cool girl” persona to play Meredith Morton, a hyper-organized, ultra-stiff New York executive trying to survive Christmas with her boyfriend’s eccentric family. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and allowed her to lean into an uncomfortably rigid, anxious performance that was the total antithesis of the free-spirited Carrie. Her physical comedy during the film’s climax—specifically a disastrous kitchen spill—remains one of the most underrated highlights of her filmography.
Paula in ‘Failure to Launch’ (2006)
In this mid-2000s box office hit, Parker played Paula, a professional “interventionist” hired by parents to trick their adult sons into moving out of the house. Starring alongside Matthew McConaughey, Parker leaned into the classic romantic comedy lead role, balancing a “fake” romance with real emotional stakes. The film showcased her impeccable comedic timing and her ability to anchor a high-concept studio blockbuster, solidifying her status as one of the most bankable leading ladies of the era
Frances Dufresne in ‘Divorce’ (2016–2019)
If Sex and the City was the fantasy of finding love, HBO’s Divorce was the cold, funny, and devastating reality of losing it. Playing Frances Dufresne, a woman navigating a long, drawn-out split in suburban New York, Parker delivered her most mature and grounded television work to date. Shifting away from high-fashion glamorous sets, this role allowed her to explore bitterness, regret, and the messy “middle age” transition, earning her critical acclaim and another Golden Globe nod for her nuanced performance.
Patty Greene in ‘Square Pegs’ (1982–1983)
To truly understand SJP’s roots, you have to go back to her breakout role as Patty Greene in the cult classic sitcom Square Pegs. At just 17 years old, she played a smart, awkward, and bespectacled high schooler desperate to fit in with the popular crowd. Even then, critics noted her “school-play smile” and the confident-yet-insecure energy that would eventually evolve into her most famous roles. It serves as a fascinating time capsule of a future superstar learning her craft.