Sorry, Sex And The City fans, there's still no hope for a movie.
Not one that includes Kim Cattrall, at least.
The Vancouver-raised actress best known for her portrayal of Sex And The
City's uber-tramp Samantha Jones was in town yesterday receiving an
international achievement Crystal award. It was presented at a Toronto's
Women In Film And Television luncheon at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
"I felt that there were two reasons to do the film -- an artistic reason and
a financial reason, and without a script or any kind of fairness
financially, I didn't see a reason to do it," said Cattrall in an interview
following the awards ceremony.
"I also think it's really about beginnings and endings, and what we did was
quite revolutionary -- but the next chapter had already begun for me as far
as producing and I felt that's where I should be instead."
Although she's closed the Sex And The City book, Cattrall's not about to
leave sex or HBO behind. With her recently founded Canadian-based production
company (Fertile Ground Productions), she's developing two projects for the
network, including a documentary entitled Sexual Intelligence that,
according to the actress, digs "deep into our history and how we deal or do
not deal with our sexuality."
It's something Cattrall is certainly experienced with -- from her early role
as a sex-crazed gym teacher in Porky's to her 2002 book, Satisfaction: The
Art Of The Female Orgasm -- she's undeniably synonymous with sex.
But being the 'sex girl' doesn't bother her.
"Sexuality is part of my being a woman and I don't see it as being separate
from myself ... I think that would be too narrowminded," said Cattrall. "I
have been given an opportunity because of Sex And The City to have a
platform to talk about sex and how I feel about it. The show and the
character were so positive and so I don't have any negative feelings about
the (sex element)."
According to Kate Hanley, WIFT-T's president, Cattrall's progressive work is
part of the reason she received the award.
"We started out blushing and we ended up cheering," said Hanley in a post
awards press conference. "Kim has made enormous gains in the portrayal of
women -- particularly older women. She's made a tremendous contribution."
Open and honest about sex she is -- but the actress is definitely not the
brash power-floozy that is her Sex And The City character.
Wearing a simple, feminine dress by "Mr. Armani" and pretty (and tres
fitting) heels by "Mr. Blahnik," a petite and soft spoken Cattrall modestly
thanked WIFT-T, spoke glowingly of Canada and even joked with reporters
about having once dated Pierre Trudeau.
Said Cattrall: "He was one of my heroes."
Next for the actress is a leading role in the British theatre production
Whose Life Is It Anyway? in which Cattrall will play a woman paralyzed from
the neck down.
But don't worry -- it's still got sex.
"Sex isn't about what's down here," said Cattrall, pointing to her crotch.
"It's about what's up here," she added, pointing to her head of course.
