Sarah Jessica Parker was only 11 years old when she walked onto a Broadway stage, with a watchful audience. Little did she know then that it would only take a small amount of time before this would eventually become her daily life. Was it always as easy as it seems to be?

The iconic Broadway and television star Sarah Jessica Parker we know wasn't always surrounded by the fame and fortune she has today. She may be considered a famous icon, but before her big break, what was her life like? What sets her apart from other celebrities we already know and love?

Read on to find out more about Sarah Jessica Parker's life, and how she's gone from a family of poverty to an idol of many, including myself.

Who is Sarah Jessica Parker?

Early Life

Sarah Jessica Parker was born in Nashville, Ohio in 1965 to Barbra Forste and Stephen Parker. Her parents, Barbra Forste and Stephen Parker, had four children, with Sarah being the youngest. At the early age of three, her father and mother divorced and her father walked out on his family. Her mother became a single mother of four who had to take care of all of her children while only relying on her paycheck as a teacher. A few years later, her mother remarried Paul Forste, an in-and-out-of-work truck driver. Over the years, they also had four children together and in total, Sarah had seven siblings.

After her biological father left them, her family was sent into a life of poverty. Even when her mother remarried, they still struggled financially because her new stepfather was in and out of work, meaning he did not always bring home a paycheck. For Sarah and her siblings, this meant a lot of hand-me-downs from older siblings, not always being able to celebrate birthdays, Christmas, or other events, and sharing everything, such as toys, beds, clothes, etc. Sarah had always dreamed of becoming a Broadway and television star, and this motivated her to do her best for her family.

Road to Success

Despite her family’s struggles, Sarah’s priorities in life were still noticed by her parents and siblings. Sarah loved to sing, dance, and act. Though her family was poor, she tried her best to get lessons or learn and practice by herself at any chance she could. Her mother was particularly supportive of her pursuing her dreams, who would work at the studios or companies to make up for the money she owed the teachers. Besides this, her mother also cleaned the floors of studios in exchange for singing or dancing lessons.

When Sarah was 11 years old, her family moved to New Jersey, just outside of New York, so that she could audition for a role in Broadway shows in the hopes of earning money and helping her family. Soon enough, she landed her first role in the revival of The Innocents in 1976 and she was able to make enough income from the show for herself and her family while still doing what she loved.

After getting her first role in 1976, she landed the iconic title role of “Annie” in Annie on Broadway in 1979. This role led her on the path of becoming a popular Broadway star and television actress as she was able to be seen by big TV show producers showcasing her talent and it gave her the hope to carry on pursuing her dream.

Achievements

To date, Sarah has starred in five broadway shows, 65 television shows, and 42 movies for the past 40 years. Her most well-known roles are in stage productions like Once Upon a Mattress and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, in TV shows like Sex and the City, where she played the lead role of Carrie Bradshaw, a fashion designer, and journalist, and in movies like Footloose, the Hocus Pocus films, and And Just Like That.

Sarah is now 57 years old, happily married to a fellow iconic actor, Matthew Broderick, with whom she has three children: James (20 years old) and Tabitha and Marion who are twins (both 13 years old).

There is also the fact that due to COVID-19, many things in Sarah’s life had to pause, such as acting, but in 2021, she was able to start filming for Hocus Pocus 2.

Recently, she has been keeping quiet due to the sudden death of her step-father, Paul Giffin Forste, who died at the age of 76. She was last seen before this at the movie premier of Hocus Pocus 2.

What I believe sets Sarah Jessica Parker apart from other talented and famous artists is that even though she started with a life of poverty, she was able to work her way up to the life she is now to have today. From when her parents divorced to getting her first role in a Broadway play, she has grown in many aspects of life.

Sarah Jessica Parker may have started with barely enough, but she has grown to become the person many look up to and dream to be. Through the ups and downs of poverty, acting, and pursuing her dream, she has taught us the power of resilience, self-determination, and hope. As she once said, “Follow your instincts and do not let others' opinions of you become your opinion of yourself.”

References:

• Britt, Tabitha. “Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s 3 Kids: Everything to Know.” Peoplemag, 28 Oct. 2022, people.com/parents/all-about-sarah-jessica-parker-matthew-broderick-kids/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.

• ESME. “Sarah Jessica Parker: A True Life Cinderella.” ESME, 8 Oct. 2015, esme.com/single-moms/solo-mom-in-the-spotlight/sarah-jessica-parker-a-true-life-cinderella. Accessed 31 Oct. 2022.