Sarah Jessica Parker is best known for playing Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City protagonist with an addiction to shoes and questionable relationships. Thanks of the success of the show, Sarah Jessica is now a household name. And since Sex and the City’s debut in 1998, she has starred in several other notable roles that have contributed to her major success as an actress.
But the truth about how Sarah Jessica Parker got famous is much more Disney than fans might imagine. She wasn’t born into a famous family or even a wealthy family for that matter. And she’s had to work very hard to carve out the life of her dreams, which wasn’t accessible to her during her younger years. Keep reading to find out the truth about Sarah Jessica Parker’s childhood and how she overcame the odds to find mainstream success as an actress in Hollywood.
A Child of Divorce
Born in Nelsonville, Ohio, Sarah Jessica Parker was a child of divorce. Her father Stephen Parker, a journalist, walked out on the family when Sarah Jessica was just one year old. She then lived with her mother, Barbara, who ran a nursery school.
Although Parker’s parents didn’t stay together, she did have a father figure in her life, with her mother remarrying Paul Forste, a theatre student.
One Of Eight Children
One of the things that many fans don’t know about Sarah Jessica Parker is that she has quite a few siblings. Before Stephen left, the Parker family had four children, Sarah Jessica being the youngest. After Barbara remarried two years later, she had three more children with Paul Forste. In total, Sarah Jessica had seven siblings.
The actress keeps her life private and doesn’t reveal excessive detail about her family to the media. But we do know that two of her full siblings are in the film business too: Timothy Britten Parker and Pippin Parker.
Timothy has appeared on several TV shows, including Law & Order and Divorce. Meanwhile, Pippin is a playwright and theater director and currently serves as the Dean of the New School of Drama.
Living In Poverty
Some consider Sarah Jessica Parker to be a real-life Cinderella because, prior to becoming wealthy and successful, she lived in poverty. According to Esme, the family had no choice but to rely on welfare and state aid for their survival.
Still living in Ohio, the family of 10 often went without electricity and didn’t celebrate every birthday or every Christmas. Sarah Jessica, who has described her early childhood as “Dickensian”, often wore clothes passed down from her older siblings or purchased from thrift stores.
The actress recalls being a “free lunch” child at elementary school and having to line up in front of the classroom before lunch. “It was a stigma thing. I was not the only person receiving a free lunch, but you are aware you are different,” she revealed (via Esme).
Things have certainly changed for Sarah Jessica, who is now known to be the Sex and the City cast member with the highest net worth.
Bartering For Acting Lessons
How did Sarah Jessica go from a “Dickensian” childhood to becoming Carrie Bradshaw? It all started with acting lessons.
Despite the money being tight, her mom encouraged her to pursue her love of acting, taking her to free matinees whenever possible. Though Barbara couldn’t afford acting and singing lessons, she would barter for them. According to Esme, she even cleaned the studios where the lessons were hold so her daughter could study for free.
The Breadwinner At 11 Years Old
The Parker family was incredibly supportive of the acting ambitions of all the children and relocated to New Jersey when Sarah Jessica was 11. Not long after, she was cast in her first New York stage role, rendering her the breadwinner of the family.
Sarah Jessica’s major career success came years later, when she starred as Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City. But before her mainstream breakthrough, she had notable roles in several famous films and TV shows, including Square Pegs, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and Footloose.
Her Net Worth Today
Sarah Jessica Parker’s life has changed drastically since her childhood in Ohio. After finding success as an actress, she achieved global recognition as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. The TV show expanded into an empire spawning two feature films and a series reboot. The show additionally earned 50 Emmy nominations, winning seven. It also established Sarah Jessica as a fashion icon, much like her character Carrie.
Today, it’s estimated that Sarah Jessica has a net worth of approximately $150 million. Along with the income brought in from acting, she also has a line of fragrances and a shoe line, as well as other successful business ventures.