**Kristin Davis Reflects on Time Filming ‘Sex and the City’ and the Challenges Faced**
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Actress Kristin Davis recently shared her memories of the iconic television series ‘Sex and the City’, which first aired on HBO in 1998. During a conversation on the ‘Dinner’s On Me’ podcast hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Davis recounted the excitement of receiving VHS tapes of the show’s episodes while they were still in production.
At 61 years old, Davis revealed that all cast members approached the series with their unique perspectives. “They would give us a VHS,” she explained. “And we would run home — I would run home at least.” This practice, she recalls, was not just about watching the episodes from an audience’s viewpoint, but rather a way to gauge their performances and how the scenes had come together.
Davis noted that these early cuts of the series were quite rough. “Sometimes it would have placeholders; it wouldn’t have special effects or music,” she said, reflecting on how these incomplete versions sparked her curiosity. Despite the lack of polish, the anticipation of seeing what had been included in the final edits was a thrilling experience for her and her co-stars.
‘Sex and the City’, which starred Davis alongside Kim Cattrall, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Cynthia Nixon, became a cultural phenomenon. Not only did it lead to two films and a continuation series titled ‘And Just Like That…’, but it also defined a generation’s understanding of relationships and femininity. The sequel series premiered on Max in December 2021 and concluded in August 2025.
In a 2025 feature in PEOPLE magazine, Davis opened up about her initial discomfort on set. She described the anxiety of performing intimate scenes without the protection of intimacy coordinators, a practice that was not common at the time of filming. The show, which targeted a female audience, led her to fret over how viewers might react to the amount of sexual content portrayed.
Davis expressed concern that the scenes were crafted more for the male gaze than for women. Reflecting on this aspect of the filming, she remarked, “A female gaze — they don’t want to see that,” suggesting that the representation of female sexuality was still a contentious area during the show’s original run.
Moreover, Davis confessed to feeling “scared” about portraying such explicit scenes, which contributed to a sense of vulnerability. “I did not feel protected in the early days of the show,” she admitted, sharing a moment when she would retreat to her dressing room to process her feelings. In one instance, she felt so overwhelmed that she called her manager in Los Angeles at two in the morning seeking comfort and reassurance.
The impact of ‘Sex and the City’ continues to resonate, with many reminiscing about the show’s approach to subjects like love, friendship, and sexuality. As the cultural landscape has evolved, discussions around these themes have also changed, highlighting the ongoing relevance of the series more than two decades after its debut.
In revisiting her experiences, Davis provides an important insight into the world of television production in the late 1990s. Her reflections not only showcase the formative days of a groundbreaking series but also reveal the personal struggles faced by actresses in a male-dominated industry.
As fans of the show await future developments and possible spin-offs, Davis’ memories serve as a reminder of the complexities behind the glamour of television and the emotional realities that come with it. The stories from the filming of ‘Sex and the City’ are a testament to the challenges and triumphs that shaped the legacy of a show that changed the landscape of entertainment for women.