‘Sex and the City’ Creator Reveals Which Wild Stories Are Actually Her Own: ‘People Are Usually Surprised’
Candace Bushnell, the creator of Sex and the City, is giving fans an intimate look at which parts of the iconic HBO series were inspired by her own life. In a recent interview with People, Bushnell opened up about her one-woman show Candace Bushnell: Tales of Sex, Success and Sex in the City, and how much of the storyline actually mirrors her experiences.
“Originally, Carrie Bradshaw was basically me, and that’s one of the things that’s a big part of the show, it’s about ‘Sex and the City’, how I created ‘Sex and the City’, how hard I worked to get there and why I invented Carrie Bradshaw,” Bushnell said. She explained that her show includes a segment called Real or Not Real, where she shares with audiences which stories come from her life.
“The show is pretty ‘Sex and the City’–oriented. I talk about my Charlotte, my Samantha and my Miranda,” she added. Bushnell clarified that Carrie was based on her, especially in the early seasons, but the character eventually grew beyond her own experiences. “Carrie Bradshaw is the character that was based on me, probably closer at the beginning of the series, and then it takes on a life of its own, which is fantastic because you want that to happen.”
Fans are often surprised to learn how closely some storylines reflect Bushnell’s life. “People are usually surprised by, in some ways, how the show mirrored my own life. Certainly at the beginning. Audiences aren’t so aware of that. I didn’t end up with my Mr. Big. I do tell that story about our breakup,” she shared.
Bushnell first developed her Off-Broadway show during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time she says felt impossible for writing and producing a play. “But it just seemed absolutely impossible. It seemed impossible to write a play for somebody who had no connections; it just wasn’t gonna happen,” she told People.
Despite the challenges, she persisted and has performed the show internationally, including multiple sold-out performances at Café Carlyle and The London Palladium.
“I just kept doing it. I’ve done it three times at Café Carlyle. I’ve actually done it all over the world. I’ve done it twice at The London Palladium to a sold-out crowd,” Bushnell said. She reflected that even she was surprised by some aspects of how the show developed. “There were things that were really surprising that at first, I didn’t even know what it was going to be.”
It’s fascinating to see how much of Sex and the City was inspired by Bushnell’s own life, especially Carrie’s early adventures and struggles. Do you think it changes how you view the show knowing Carrie was originally based on a real person? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
