Who is Kim Cattrall?

Early Life: Liverpool Roots and Canadian Upbringing

Kim Victoria Cattrall was born on August 21, 1956, in the Mossley Hill district of Liverpool, England. Her parents were Gladys Shane (née Baugh), a secretary, and Dennis Cattrall, a construction engineer. Her family emigrated to Canada when she was just a baby, settling in Courtenay, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, where she spent much of her formative childhood.

As a child, Cattrall’s connection to performance began early. At age 11, when her grandmother fell ill, she returned to Liverpool, where she enrolled in acting exams at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Despite loving the discipline, she eventually moved back to Canada and finished her schooling before setting her sights on the world of professional acting.

Even before her high school graduation in 1972, Cattrall was determined to pursue acting professionally. At just 16, she moved to New York City to train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, an early leap of faith that would kick‑start an internationally successful career.

Launching into Acting: The 1970s and 1980s

After completing her training in New York, Cattrall struck gold: she signed a five‑year film contract with legendary director Otto Preminger and made her screen debut in his thriller Rosebud (1975). Shortly after, Universal Studios acquired her contract, placing her within the then‑dying system of studio contract players — a historical holdover from the old Hollywood era.

Throughout the late 1970s, she appeared in episodic television — from Columbo to Quincy, M.E. — giving her early exposure and versatility. But Cattrall’s breakthrough in mainstream cinema came in the early 1980s, with roles that display her range across genres:

Tribute (1980) opposite Jack Lemmon — a serious dramatic part.
Porky’s (1982), a broad teen sex comedy that became a box‑office smash, introducing her to wider audiences.
Police Academy (1984), a comedic ensemble hit.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986), an action–comedy with cult infamy.
Mannequin (1987), an enduring romantic comedy where she co‑starred with Andrew McCarthy.

During this era, Cattrall proved she could move between comedy, drama, romance, and action — qualities that would serve her throughout her career.

**Samantha Jones and Sex and the City: Reinvention and Legacy**

Though Cattrall had honed her craft across film and stage, her global cultural ascent came with HBO’s Sex and the City (1998–2004), where she played the fearless, unapologetically sexual public relations guru Samantha Jones.

A Role She Almost Didn’t Take

Intriguingly, Cattrall initially turned down the role of Samantha four times. At age 41, she admitted she doubted audiences would embrace a sexy, confident woman in her forties — a perception she later described as “self‑inflicted ageism.”

She eventually accepted, and the character became iconic: a symbol of female empowerment, sexual agency, and confidence in an era when such portrayals were rare. Cattrall herself said Samantha’s joy and freedom were always on her own terms, a distinction that helped redefine how women in that age bracket could be depicted on television.

Awards and Recognition

For the role, Cattrall earned five Primetime Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nominations, winning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 2002.

Beyond awards, Samantha became one of the most enduring characters in TV history — a woman living life boldly, proudly, and without apology, challenging norms about sexuality, aging, and female autonomy.

**Beyond Sex and the City: A Varied Career**

After Sex and the City, Cattrall resisted being typecast. She continued working in film, television, and theatre — an artist unafraid to take risks.

Film and Television

Following Sex and the City, she reprised her Samantha role in two theatrical films: Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010). While the sequel drew mixed reactions, the films cemented her role in the pop culture lexicon.

Her post‑City career has included:

Dramatic roles in films like The Ghost Writer (2010).
Television roles in series such as Sensitive Skin (2014–2016), where she starred as well as executive produced, earning critical praise and nominations in Canada.
Parts in contemporary shows like Tell Me a Story, Filthy Rich, Queer as Folk (2022), and Glamorous (Netflix, 2023).
A role in How I Met Your Father (2022–2023), broadening her comedic and dramatic range.

Stage and Radio

Cattrall has long been drawn to theatre — a realm where her training and instincts truly shine. She has appeared in Shakespearean and contemporary productions, including Antony and Cleopatra, Private Lives, and Sweet Bird of Youth on major stages in England and abroad.

In 2024 and 2025 she also narrated a BBC Radio 4 drama about the CIA figure Eloise Page, showcasing her adaptability and continuing interest in serious, multifaceted roles.

**Her Relationship with And Just Like That… and the End of a Franchise**

The Sex and the City universe returned in HBO’s reboot, And Just Like That…. Cattrall did not reprise the role as a regular cast member and revealed she was never approached to join the reboot — discovering developments through social media like many fans.

She did, however, make a brief cameo in Season 2, delighting fans who had long hoped for any return.

In 2025 it was announced the And Just Like That… series would come to a planned conclusion after three seasons, bringing the Sex and the City universe to a close after a remarkable 27‑year run. Cattrall subtly acknowledged the milestone with a reflective Instagram post, capturing the emotional weight of the franchise’s end.

Personal Life: Love, Loss, and Reinvention

Kim Cattrall’s personal life has been as textured and meaningful as her career. Before 2025 she had been married three times — to Larry Davis (1977–1979), Andre J. Lyon (1982–1989), and Mark Levinson (1998–2004).

Marriage to Russell Thomas (2025)

In December 2025, at age 69, Cattrall married Russell Thomas, a British audio engineer and former actor she’d been in a relationship with since 2016. Their wedding was an intimate, elegant ceremony in London’s Chelsea Old Town Hall, with just 12 guests — a choice that reflected their mutual preference for authenticity and privacy.

Cattrall wore a bespoke Dior suit styled by Patricia Field — tying together fashion, personal style, and her Sex and the City heritage — while Thomas chose a tailored Richard James suit, underscoring their shared flair.

Cattrall has described Thomas as a “firecracker” with a wicked sense of humor — a partner who complements her worldliness and zest for life.

They split time between homes in Vancouver Island, London, and New York City, blending their international lives and personal journeys.

Public Persona, Advocacy, and Influence

Though widely known for playing Samantha Jones, Cattrall has always been distinct from her most famous character. She worked hard to maintain a clear separation between her identity and that role, even donating much of Samantha’s wardrobe and speaking candidly about industry expectations and beauty standards.

She has also been an outspoken advocate around issues like ageism and representation, noting how societal assumptions about women over 40 limited opportunities — and how Samantha helped challenge those norms.

Her broader influence includes a fashion legacy — appearing in campaigns that celebrate timeless style and confidence — and a willingness to embrace aging, individuality, and authenticity.

Legacy and What Comes Next

Kim Cattrall’s career spans more than five decades, threading through the golden age of Hollywood contracts to the age of streaming, franchises, and renewed conversations about representation. She has thrived in cinema, television, theatre, and radio – consistently choosing complexity over simplicity, challenge over comfort.