Sarah Jessica Parker In ‘Divorce’ Versus ‘Sex And The City’
It’s been 12 years since Sex and the City left HBO, yet Sarah Jessica Parker is ready to return to her beloved network as the star of the new comedy Divorce.
The soon-to-air show, written by Catastrophe co-creator Sharon Horgan, revolves around Parker’s new character, Frances, who has been described by SJP as completely removed from her former and well-known character Carrie Bradshaw.
Sarah Jessica Parker on Returning to Television in HBO’s ‘Divorce’ https://t.co/t7jUUQwiOk pic.twitter.com/sv7nrWRyir
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 30, 2016
Although Carrie Bradshaw will always be a fixture and compared to any character Parker takes on, fans will surely be just as pleased to see her in an entirely new and refreshing role. Sarah Jessica spoke of the process that she and the writers went through to develop Frances, and notes that they weren’t trying to make her different from Carrie, but that the new character’s priorities resulted in a different character coming to be. Variety shares Parker’s words on the subject.
“I don’t think that we actually talked a lot about trying to make her different, I think this story is different. I was always interested in the story of marriage, and by virtue of that interest alone it was automatically different. The only time we were cognizant of distinction was when we started talking about the wardrobe. I think Frances was so much her own person from the moment I read the pilot, she was so distinct from not only Carrie but any character I’ve ever played.”
SJP also commented on what it has been like getting back into the routine of being on a television series and how easy or difficult it was to adapt to the consistent routine and schedule. The actress shared that it really didn’t take long and that television is right where she wants to be.
“It’s not unlike other things that you’ve spent a lot of time doing – it’s a muscle slightly atrophied and you have to remind it of the routine. The day to day was really familiar. The first season of a TV show, figuring out the language we all wanted to use and the tone, it reminded me how much I love television. I love the process, the schedule, the speed, the urgency, how important every detail is… it didn’t take long to feel natural again and very much where I wanted to be, with these people in particular.”
Horgan has earned acclaim for not only creating but also starring in Catastrophe along with Rob Delaney. She noted that Catastrophe draws more from her life experience, while Divorce is quite far removed from her own personal life. The writer and actress shares that she gained information from those in her life who had advice to give about the process of divorce so she could properly write the series.
“I use my own life and stories quite a lot, but in this less, because I haven’t been through a divorce. I sat a friend down and asked if she’d give me some of the detail and nuances that would help it feel real. I don’t think I had that in me.”
Thomas Haden Church stars as Frances’ husband in the series and admits that, although not divorced, as he became more familiar with the role of Robert, he became more in tune with what people who are going through a divorce experience. Mainly observations such as “parents are trying to keep up performances in front of their children” were made.
Divorce: Sarah Jessica Parker Comedy Series Coming to HBO in October – TV Series Finale https://t.co/PwDMDYo0Xu
— Mad Men Tweet (@MadMenTweet) July 30, 2016
Parker shared about what she, also as a happily married woman, became aware of in regard to divorced individuals.
“The thing we discovered is, divorce is always thought of as this solitary endeavor, but to divorce you need the other person a whole lot. You’re not in the experience alone, the exercise is so brutal, it can either be made better by the other person or much worse.”
The show is to premiere on October 9, 2016, at 10 p.m. on HBO, as Deadline shares.
[Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images]
