Sarah Jessica Parker’s Golden Eve Honor Speech Was a Tribute to Her Family—and Her Sex and the City Roots

After getting ready at The Beverly Hills Peninsula hotel with go-to hair stylist Chris McMillan, makeup artist Elaine Offers, and manicurist Sarah Chue, Parker spent some quiet moments reflecting on her acceptance speech. “I still get nervous—I m not casual about anything,” she said with a smile. “There s really no secret. I try to be somewhat composed and presentable and rely on words to get me through it. I think being nervous is ok in that environment—emotion is part of an evening like that.”

As a lifelong fan of Carol Burnett, whom she sat beside at the ceremony, there was an added layer of personal importance. “It s hard to be anecdotal and brief on the topic, because it’s very meaningful,” Parker said of the recognition. “I was—all the words that you might predict I might say—honored, humbled, overwhelmed. I felt duty-bound to write remarks that communicated how I felt about Miss Burnett and what she’s meant to me and millions of others. Her skill, her singular physical and intellectual comedy, her infamous generosity. That kind of eclipsed everything, which was perhaps good for me because it’s usually better for me to focus on an exercise!”

In her eloquent prose, the Ohio-born, New York-seasoned thesp also thanked her agent of 40 years, business manager of 45 years, publicist of 30 years, and lawyer of 35 years. Meanwhile, beaming back at her from the audience were past co-stars including Kristen Davis, Evan Handler, and David Eigenberg. On stage, she remarked: “It’s the nature of the journeyman to move on, but in 1997 because [my agent] Kevin [Huvane] said I had to say ‘yes’—I met Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes, and I spent 25 years with the most glorious ensemble of women and actors, where we treated all of New York like CBS Television City and the streets like Studio 33. Darren Star, thanking you for thinking me your Carrie seems inefficient, but it is what I everlastingly feel. And Michael Patrick King, our longtime leader, my partner and Carrie’s extraordinary narrator, you left no stone unturned for Carrie’s better or worse; only for my better.”

Parker also praised Broderick, reflecting on the life they have built together. “To my beloved family, my brilliant husband Matthew, who has been my husband for just shy of 30 years, who has given me a family discount and an all-access pass to his masterclass in acting, comedy and dedication…and to the family we have made. Our divine James Wilkie, Loretta, and Tabitha, oh God. I love you so deeply and admire so much the people that you are becoming. That every day at home and at work, I want to make you proud.”

The morning after, Parker was on the road back to New York bright and early to get home to her 16-year-old twin daughters: “They’re both experiencing semesters away. One just came back, one’s about to head out, and we’ll be visiting college campuses later this year.” After spending the lion’s share of 2025 reading during every spare moment as she judged the Booker Prize, Parker is excited to catch up on culture before returning to filming for two upcoming movies. “I didn t see any theater or ballet at all last year, or movies or television series as much, because I was reading all the time. I ve missed it all very much, so I m going to jump back in from today. And, you know, think about when I’m going to get to the grocery store and what I’m going to get for dinner for everybody.”

Golden Eve: The Golden Globes Honor Helen Mirren Sarah Jessica Parker is available to stream on Paramount+.