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SINGAPORE : When Sarah Jessica Parker swept into the interview room at London's Dorchester Hotel wearing a stunning black see-through mini (complete with killer heels, no less), there was an immediate collective hush, proceeded by a non-stop gush.
While the female reporters ooh-ed and ahh-ed and asked who she was wearing, the boys were taken by the pint-sized dynamo's poise and old-school charm all wrapped up in a lithe 44-year-old body and the shortest of short hemlines.
"Oh, it's Christian Dior," she answered, referring to her dress, in that unmistakable sing-song lilt.
"It's not mine - you can have it! I am giving it back tonight, so I'm sure everyone can grab it tomorrow!" she finished off, laughing. And the entire room laughed along.
For a minute, a roomful of jaded entertainment journos forgot Parker was in the room to promote "Did You Hear About The Morgans?" - her latest rom-com with Hugh Grant about a high-flying New York City couple who get relocated to a small town in Wyoming as part of a witness protection programme. We were just happy to bask in her fabulousness.
Such is the fascination that swirls around SJP (a woman now so iconic she has an acronym).
She is, after all, the child actress ("I've been working since 1973") who, after a hit-and-miss-movie career, became the "It" girl every urban female wanted to be with "Sex And The City".
Scratch that. She was the girl every woman thought we could be - if we had her Manolos and indomitable city-girl spirit.
Of course, SJP is more than just Carrie Bradshaw with a longer name. More than she enjoyed talking fashion, Parker loved talking about her children with hubby Matthew Broderick.
She spoke animatedly and endlessly about how her precocious seven-year-old James Wilkie "actually wants to practise the piano!" and how her new baby twin girls ("Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge," she patiently spelled out) are extremely well-behaved but couldn't travel to London because they couldn't get their H1N1 shots.
Dedicated mother, stylish friend ("Ooh, your sweater is gorgeous!" she said to a delighted Greek reporter), and formidable PR machine (we scored a snap with her!).
Looks like SJP really is all that and a bag of chips. Or Jimmy Choos.
You lived so long as Carrie Bradshaw. Is it a relief to do other roles and movies such as "Did You Hear About The Morgans?"
Carrie Bradshaw is not somebody I run away from. It's not a relief to play somebody else - it's my job. And I love it. And that's why I stopped doing the series so that I could play other parts.
But it's not like she's some piano on my back. If that were the case, I wouldn't keep putting together the ("Sex And The City") movies, because that takes a huge amount of work on my part. I love playing Carrie and I love all that it takes to put that together. Most importantly, I love the cast and love my time with them.
But I am an actor and it's really important that I do other things, that I put myself in unfamiliar situations. Can you imagine writing the same story over and over again? You might love the subject but you still want to think that you might want to travel to Timbuktu and write about something you don't know and want to learn.
You've always stated you're a through-and-through city girl. Could you move to Wyoming, like your character does in the film?
If I was forced to go some place, I could go if I had my children and my family. I don't really care where I am. If my free will is dictating, then of course I will live in New York City. That is my choice. But we also have a house in a most remote part of Ireland and that is our choice. So I think when you are with your family, you enjoy all sorts of things. I think it would be rather small-minded of us to never want to see or experience other things.
So what drew you this particular script?
Hugh Grant. You roll your eyes, but it's true. Hugh Grant! I also love the story but, really, you can hang your hat on Hugh Grant.
What was it like working with Hugh Grant again?
We first worked together about 13 years ago and on that movie ("Extreme Measures"), we didn't spend much time together. For this one, thankfully, I was shoved up his jacket pocket for four blissful months. I wanted to be in a romantic comedy opposite him for years ... He's just very very good at what he does. And I really enjoyed it.
How did you react when he started ad-libbing on set?
I react very well. (Laughs) I don't ad-lib. I am not very good at improvisation at all. I am very bad at it. But he's good at it and I am a great audience.
You're an actress, fashion icon, wife and mother - how do you do it all?
Probably like every other working mother. On some days, I do it really, really, well. And on some days, I am a bitter disappointment to everybody. But I, unlike a lot of working mothers, can say I am not going to work for six months. I feel fortunate actually that I can choose to work for a period of time and then not. I have figured out my life in ways that I know my children are well, content and happy. Only then I can make the choice to work.
Bitter disappointment? When are you disappointed with yourself?
How about right here, right now? Terrible answers and not helpful to you at all, right? Too long, rambly, for instance. (Laughs). I am disappointed with myself endlessly. I think it's the very thing that makes me the most driven. I worry constantly about work. I am in a natural state of worry. I think it's good for me.
What scoop can you give us on the upcoming "Sex And The City" movie sequel?
I can tell you we travelled great distances to film it and of course we filmed in New York, too. All the women are back and it's probably the most fun we've ever had. Oh, and all the men are back. What can I say? It's a caper. It's a road movie. It's a romp. We wanted it to feel like those movies from the '40s, you know? A real comedic beauty. A cinematic big picture and full of ridiculouslousness.
Who are your favourite fashion icons?
I should have a pad answer at this point of my life, shouldn't I? Hmm ... I think Ingrid Bergman is the most chic woman I've ever seen. And I'm quite taken by Gloria Vanderbilt - she was very glamorous. Jeez! There are many people with style. Countless women on the streets of New York; young beautiful Puerto Rican women in the subway - they have the best style.
"Did You Hear About The Morgans?" opens in cinemas on January 6.
- TODAY/il
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