Entertainment Online:
Interviews Chris Noth

Catch the original interview page on ETOnline!

He's the "Mr. Big" of HBO's "Sex and the City." Now we learn from CHRISTOPHER NOTH what we can expect for the third season of this ribald series!

Entertainment Tonight: So you are back for season three? How exciting is that and how does it feel?

Christopher Noth: It is great. Everyone feels like family and I am back in the city that I love. The show is catching on like wild fire. It really is amazing. It is actually really amazing because by the end of the first season there was a moderate sort of attention. Then, after the end of the second season I was just so amazed. I am simply amazed, and we have a good time working on it.

ET: What is like working with the fabulous SARAH JESSICA PARKER?

Chris: Everyone knows that I love Sarah, and I don't understand why my character left. I do what I can, but I have to follow the orders of the writers. I say that he should marry her, but no one listens to me. I would have -- what's not to like!

ET: Exactly, what is wrong with this guy?

Chris: That is a philosophical kind of question and I am not allowed to discuss that. Lets talk about what is wrong with society today (laughing). Don't vote for Bush. Republicans will destroy the country.

ET: It seems that your character cannot commit.

Chris: I know, but that comes from a Republican sensibility, which is to destroy the fabric of the psychological well being of most men. They have gotten too involved with making money. They do not understand the real values, the democratic values, of the emotions and the commitments that are the basic drives that nourish us. This is why you should not vote Republican.

ET: Did you have trouble or could you relate to your character?

Chris: I did not have a clue when I first started working on this, but my relationship with Sarah is so close. Whenever I am in trouble, I can use what we have with comfort and ease.

To tell you the truth at first I could not really relate to the character. As the writing got more specific though and our relationship deepened, it helped me to get a grip, a grip on my life. (laughing)

ET: That is a good thing and he is giving you a run for your money.

Chris: He is dead, dead meat. I am sure because he is really a nice guy and I am sure everyone hates me by now. I may come back into the picture, you never know. However, I am not allowed to say anything about that. He is a sweetheart though and the girls love him.

ET: Actually you say everyone hates you, but they really don't.

Chris: I had a reporter come up to me and say, "So how does it feel to be so hated?" I thought to myself, "Do they really hate me?" Well, it is always the same thing. It is the commitment thing. It is not that he is not committed because I think they were committed. They were obviously committed, but it wasn't easy. I guess it never is.

What you are dealing with, is a guy that has been through a lot and seen a lot already. I hate to talk about character, but he has a low tolerance. That is a minus not a plus because if you have been through a few emotional wars and marriages, you are not as willing to tolerate. You have to be able to tolerate. That is why I say vote democratic (laughing).

ET: So how has it been being the only guy?

Chris: Well there is WILLIE GARSON, and there are all sorts of other wonderful characters that come into a show or a few. My main involvement though is with Sarah. That was fun because I go to know the girls in her group. Hell, I have got it made. I work with Sarah. I adore her and believe me there are times in this industry that you work with people and you end up not even talking to them. So I am very lucky.

ET: Did you have any idea how great the show was going to be?

Chris: No, I am constantly amazed by the response. When you are in it, it hard to judge how people are going to react. It gets a little scary.

ET: So can you tell us what is happening on the show?

Chris: I am not allowed to say. Actually, I really don't even know. They keep it until the day I get there.

ET: So tell me, you just came off the film 'Cast Away.' What was that like?

Chris: Yeah, I did. That was great. I had a beautiful little part in that movie. It has been going on for two years. Now they are wrapping it up in Memphis. I am doing little parts of movies while I am doing this. I am going to go do 'The Glass House' in LA. Then I come back to do this. It will be fun.

ET: That is so cool.

Chris: The thing I am really excited about is a movie I did called 'Searching for Paradise.' It is an independent feature. This is in terms of movies though because, of course, I am excited about "Sex and the City."

ET: What is the film about?

Chris: I play a movie star that SUSAN MAY PRATT, that is her name, becomes obsessed with. It is about her coming of age and Italian culture. It is about Italian sensibility because her grandparents are Italian. Then, she falls in love with an Italian movie star, and they met and have this wild time together. It is a lot of fun.

ET: So tell me what it was like working with TOM HANKS [in 'Cast Away'].

Chris: Well, I had a great scene with him. He was very relaxed and giving. He is always there for you. He always gives 100%. He is a great guy.

ET: Do you love playing this suave kind of guy?

Chris: No, I don't like suave as a wine or a character (laughing). To tell you the truth, I always thought of myself as a character actor. I don't even buy into the idea of leading man. Looks have little to do with what is inside. I think that ultimately it would be boring to play one of them. This is written in a very interesting way though and that saves me.

ET: When you were doing "Sex and the City," did you know that it was going to catch on like a wildfire?

Chris: I had a clue that it was really something that was not being done on TV already. I am talking about points of views and attitudes. There is really not even that much nudity in these things. There is a little though, but that is not what makes this show racy. It is the ability for the show to go right into it.

ET: So what are you focusing on right now?

Chris: I am focused on this now and these other parts in the movies are just little jewels. I will be working more with creating things in the near future with HBO, but I am not allowed to say anything else about that.

-- June 7, 2000