Sex and the City’s Most Unforgettable Celebrity Cameos: From Bradley Cooper to Heidi Klum

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Sex and the City’s Most Unforgettable Celebrity Cameos: From Bradley Cooper to Heidi Klum

We all know the fifth main character on Sex and the City is New York City. But that doesn’t mean major celebrities — including Alanis Morissette and Lucy Liu — shouldn’t get credit for their star turns on the show. During its original run from June 1998 to February 2004, Sex and the City played host to a number of iconic celebrity cameos. While some famous faces played versions of themselves, others were lucky enough to take on the role of one of Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) many love interests or — perhaps even better — one of Samantha Jones’ (Kim Cattrall) clients. Starting strong in season 2, Bradley Cooper received his first-ever acting credit when he played one of Carrie’s flings. In the season’s fourth episode (aptly titled "They Shoot Single People, Don't They?”) the A Star Is Born director was sent running after seeing Carrie’s “Single and Fabulous…?” New York Magazine cover. Two years later, a season 4 episode titled “The Real Me” became one of the major moments fans call out while discussing the series’ immense guest star power. The beloved-by-many episode featured not one, but two celebs: Heidi Klum and Alan Cumming. [jwplayer R606AQgh-l3ahXupL] During the episode, Carrie is invited to walk the runway at a charity fashion show for “models and real people.” While at the event, she meets the Project Runway alum, who’s playing herself perfectly and eventually has to step over the writer when she trips on the runway. Cumming, meanwhile, played the designer who dressed her — in bejeweled underwear, originally — for the show. Nearly 20 years after her cameo, Klum got fans’ hearts pumping when she seemingly revealed she’d been cast in the SATC HBO Max reboot, And Just Like That. "How do you say Samantha in German?" the Making the Cut host wrote via Instagram in April 2021. "It has been SO hard to keep this a surprise but I can finally share that I am joining the new season of Sex and the City! I can't wait to toss back some Cosmos and kick up my Manolos with these amazing ladies @sarahjessicaparker @iamkristindavis @cynthiaenixon 💃👠🍸🗽🏙." Unfortunately, she returned to the app just hours later to reveal her announcement had been an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank. "Just kidding," she captioned the post, which showed her sipping a cosmopolitan. Scroll to see more stars who couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to guest star on Sex and the City: [podcast_block]

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Sex and the City’s Most Unforgettable Celebrity Cameos: From Bradley Cooper to Heidi Klum

We all know the fifth main character on Sex and the City is New York City. But that doesn’t mean major celebrities — including Alanis Morissette and Lucy Liu — shouldn’t get credit for their star turns on the show. During its original run from June 1998 to February 2004, Sex and the City played host to a number of iconic celebrity cameos. While some famous faces played versions of themselves, others were lucky enough to take on the role of one of Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) many love interests or — perhaps even better — one of Samantha Jones’ (Kim Cattrall) clients. Starting strong in season 2, Bradley Cooper received his first-ever acting credit when he played one of Carrie’s flings. In the season’s fourth episode (aptly titled "They Shoot Single People, Don't They?”) the A Star Is Born director was sent running after seeing Carrie’s “Single and Fabulous…?” New York Magazine cover. Two years later, a season 4 episode titled “The Real Me” became one of the major moments fans call out while discussing the series’ immense guest star power. The beloved-by-many episode featured not one, but two celebs: Heidi Klum and Alan Cumming. [jwplayer R606AQgh-l3ahXupL] During the episode, Carrie is invited to walk the runway at a charity fashion show for “models and real people.” While at the event, she meets the Project Runway alum, who’s playing herself perfectly and eventually has to step over the writer when she trips on the runway. Cumming, meanwhile, played the designer who dressed her — in bejeweled underwear, originally — for the show. Nearly 20 years after her cameo, Klum got fans’ hearts pumping when she seemingly revealed she’d been cast in the SATC HBO Max reboot, And Just Like That. "How do you say Samantha in German?" the Making the Cut host wrote via Instagram in April 2021. "It has been SO hard to keep this a surprise but I can finally share that I am joining the new season of Sex and the City! I can't wait to toss back some Cosmos and kick up my Manolos with these amazing ladies @sarahjessicaparker @iamkristindavis @cynthiaenixon 💃👠🍸🗽🏙." Unfortunately, she returned to the app just hours later to reveal her announcement had been an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank. "Just kidding," she captioned the post, which showed her sipping a cosmopolitan. Scroll to see more stars who couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to guest star on Sex and the City: [podcast_block]

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Heidi Klum

Season 4, Episode 2
Character: Herself

“You’re Heidi Klum?!” Carrie says in the episode when the Germany native appeared behind her in the mirror. While the model had to keep doing her job after the columnist fell on the runway, she offered Carrie a friendly high five after the show.

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Carrie Fisher

Season 3, Episode 14
Character: Herself

When Carrie met Carrie! During her trip to L.A., the late Star Wars actress comes face to face with the columnist when she discovers her assistant (played by Vince Vaughn) in bed with Bradshaw.

Credit: Greg Allen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Lucy Liu

Season 4, Episode 11
Character: Herself

 A potential client of Samantha’s, Liu cuts ties with the publicist after she unprofessionally name-drops her in order to get her hands on a Birkin bag. But who could blame her? It’s a Birkin!

Credit: Elizabeth Beddall/Shutterstock

Matthew McConaughey

Season 3, Episode 13
Character: Himself

While in Los Angeles, Carrie comes across the Interstellar actor, who is thinking about starring in an adaptation of her book. While meeting with the author, he notes how much he appreciates the character of Mr. Big (Chris Noth).

"Look at him. He is such a great guy. I don't know anybody any cooler than Mr. Big. The only question is, 'What the f--k is Carrie's problem?'" McConaughey says.

Credit: Ben Hider/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Alanis Morissette

Season 3, Episode 4
Character: Dawn

Times have certainly changed, but the “Ironic” singer is still iconic! In a now-dated episode, Carrie begins to worry when she realizes she’s dating (gasp!) a bisexual man. To further complicate matters, she ends up locking lips with his ex, played by the “Thank U” singer, during a game of spin the bottle.

Credit: Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage

Bradley Cooper

Season 2, Episode 4
Character: Jake 

When Carrie picks up Jake, she’s feeling particularly sad after an unflattering New York Magazine shoot — and Cooper’s character doesn’t help the situation when he goes running after seeing the cover.

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Justin Theroux

Season 1, Episode 7 and Season 2, Episode 15
Characters: Jared (season 1) and Vaughn (season 2)

Was there a shortage of attractive men on the SATC set or something? Well … maybe! In season 1, the Mulholland Drive star played author Jared, while in season 2 he appeared as fiction writer and Carrie’s boyfriend Vaughn.

"It's about girls who are dating all the time, you burn through every single male actor in New York,” Theroux told Sunday Today in April 2021. “I did a small part in the first one. You know, enters frame, says a few things and then leaves frame. And they were like, 'Why don't you come back?' … Their idea was that they would just shave my head. And they're like 'Voila! Total transformation.’”

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Geri Halliwell

Season 6, Episode 10
Character: Phoebe 

Remember Samantha’s alter ego Annabelle Bronstein? We have Ginger Spice to thank for the introduction! During a season 6 episode, Samantha runs into her friend Phoebe on a hot summer day after a dip at Soho House, causing the publicist to do everything in her power to gain a spot at the exclusive club.

Credit: Scott Kirkland/Shutterstock

Kat Dennings

Season 3, Episode 15
Character: Jenny

In the season 3 episode, Dennings plays a young client of Samantha’s who’s set on having the best Bat Mitzvah of all time.

“I want it all, I want it now, and I want you to get it for me,” she tells the shocked publicist. “I’m 13. What are you, like 45?”

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Jon Bon Jovi

Season 2, Episode 13
Character: Seth

Giving love a bad name. After Carrie meets Seth during a visit to her therapist, the pair have a love affair that lasts — like many — for one episode. After a game of Twister, the rocker reveals that he got over women as soon as he slept with them.