Sarah Jessica Parker is doing press to promote her new shoe and bag line, the SJP collection, now available at Nordstrom. The shoes start at $350, which is well above my price point. Just checking out the shoes, I cannot see how they are better crafted or more stylish than the $100 shoes I typically buy.
We saw SJP on the cover of Bazaar and she recently did a radio interview. She’s getting headlines for revealing that a producer sent her a treadmill, in 1992, to help her get fit for bikini scenes in the movie Honeymoon in Vegas. She phrased it in a way that could sound like she was being pressured to lose weight, but I didn’t see it that way. More in a moment.
Wait, seriously? Sarah Jessica Parker revealed during an interview on Sirius XM’s My Favorite Song With John Benjamin Hickey that a producer once sent her a treadmill to ensure she was in tip-top shape to film 1992 flick Honeymoon in Vegas.
The conversation all started after Parker admitted that her favorite work out song in the ‘90s was C+C Music Factory’s 1990 hit “Everybody Dance Now,” and that she would work out to the song on repeat.
“Just picture me running with a Discman,” the Sex and the City alum, now 50, cracked, before revealing the somewhat alarming story.
“You’re in fantastic shape, is that the reason why?” Hickey asked the Failure to Launch actress. “No, but it was a very important time in my life,” Parker said before explaining, “I was about do Honeymoon In Vegas and before that I was off to do another movie in Iowa and the producer of Honeymoon In Vegas was very concerned about me being fit for Honeymoon In Vegas so they sent a treadmill to Iowa.”
After Hickey asked if SJP was kidding, the fit star responded: “Dead serious.”
“I would run to [the track] the summer proceeding me leaving to go to Iowa, and then ultimately go to Vegas and New York to shoot Honeymoon In Vegas,” Parker continued. “I would very diligently go out every single day and run like a lunatic to this song. And then when I went to Iowa, on the treadmill, I would continue to run to the song. And then we went to Vegas and I had a treadmill also in my room and I would get up every morning and run.”
Honeymoon In Vegas was produced by Mike Lobell, although Parker made a point to not name names. “I’m nothing if not amenable,” she concluded.
Kaiser, Bedhead and I are all into fitness. Bedhead is a hardcore runner who does marathons. I’m into spinning and kickboxing and Kaiser does weightlifting and treadmill workouts. All of us agree that we would love it if someone sent us a treadmill. (I would prefer a new spin bike, but I’ll take a treadmill.) I guess it depends on how this was framed to SJP. She was already running outside and on the treadmill, so I don’t see how it’s a problem that she was sent one for a film where she necessarily had to show her body. If she was told to tone up that may have been somewhat shaming considering how fit she normally is, although that’s arguably a job requirement. It bugs me when people say things like “Why do you workout? You can take a break” etc. Some people work out because they love it and it’s fun. SJP strikes me as that type too. I’m more offended that she kept listening to “Everybody Dance Now” because that is such a goddamn earworm song. I’m sorry if I just infected you with it too.
Photos are from the launch of the SP collection on 9-19-15. Credit: Pacific Coast News and WENN.com. Screenshot from Honeymoon in Vegas
What I’m really upset about is the fact that she can charge $350 for a pair of shoes just because she played a fashion girl on TV.
And by upset I mean slightly jealous. Get that money.
Ha! Her perfume is amazing too. It’s one of the top sellers.
By the way, she’s never looked better, I don’t know what she’s doing but it’s subtle and not drastic (mild fillers?) and she should keep doing it.
She’s always reminded me of Aniston, but Aniston has homogenized her face over the last decade via procedures, jaw surgery, more rhinoplasty, etc. – so now I think SJP is more authentic and more attractive.
She does look amazing. I think all the eyeliner is making her look older, but without it, she really looks fab.
It’s really funny because I was at Marshall’s yesterday looking at the various perfumes that are all in those specially encased clear plastic non-theft boxes. Well, there was one perfume that had been ripped out of the regular box and thus the thief was able to rip it off even with the anti-theft thing on it. I was wondering which scent was so wonderful that someone just had to steal it. The answer? Jessica Parker’s perfume. Who would have thunk? Oh, and surprisingly, Brittney’s Curious scent is also quite nice, too.
I think SJP is just a too skinny woman with a very homely face. She really does look like a horse– huge nose, big chin, squinty eyes, reliably bad makeup, etc. But I love and respect her precisely because she never changed it, never embraced plastic surgery or did tons of ‘procedures’ to make her pretty. I wish Renee Zellwiger had had the confidence to do the same.
I was seriously just going to say something to the same effect. She has aged so gracefully! And she looks amazing for any age. She’s probably fitter than most women in their 20s. ❤️
Definition of back handed compliment right there, Stacey.
I’m offended!!! Oh wait.
My treadmill is my therapist.
I’ve just finished “couch to 5k” and have realized the power of running for that reason. Was wondering how much was being out in the park and how much the actual running. It’s amazing how much a difference it makes, especially when I’m feeling stressed or anxious.
I love C25K. I’m athletic (mostly softball) and am not a distance runner. The most I ever ran was around the bases in softball. My grandchildren were doing the Read, Rite, Run program at school and I wanted to run the 5K the day they ran their last mile so I started the C25K (back on it again). I started on a treadmill because it is easier to keep the timing and up my pace. But once I got to run 25 minutes at a time I was ready to run the full 5K.
I finished it during the summer and I am SO glad I did it, I worked on getting my times faster since then as I really wanted a sub 30 minutes and am now on sprint intervals. I get moments before it where I’m stalling and dreading it but you feel SO much better.
Kitten, I hear ya! A bad knee injury years go keeps me mainly to a treadmill as it’s way easier on the joint and it’s probably just me but I don’t feel safe running alone in the evenings but it is SO boring. I tell myself it’s better than nothing and I’m trying but I have still gotten the “urgh treadmills are so shit and not real running” talk from a few runners, usually resulting in a middle finger from me. Ive no problem with folks not liking them, as they’re not the ideal but don’t tell me when I’m sweating buckets and dying that it’s not real running.
@Lindy-Yeah I know *those runners* that you speak of. Ugh.
I really don’t see any major difference between outdoor running and treadmill running in terms of heart-rate and quality of workout.
To me, a treadmill is harder to run on because of the mental component. That being said, treadmills are obviously softer (THAT part I always notice) and if you don’t increase the incline then I suppose you could make the argument that it’s slightly less challenging than the outside where you have hills/inclines/wind resistance etc. But I agree with you about sweating like crazy on a treadmill. If anything, I think I work harder on the treader because I force myself to run faster. When I’m outside, I just go at whatever pace I feel most comfortable–I usually run for mileage and not speed.
@Lindy – I’m a distance runner (marathons) and I would never belittle the use of a treadmill. I don’t LIKE treadmills, I prefer running outside, but sometimes that’s just not possible so I use a treadmill. How are treadmills not real running? Anything that gets the heart rate going is good!
Careful folks. Treadmills actually AREN’T easier on the joints – in fact a treadmill has one of the worst surfaces for running. I commiserate on the safety thing. See if you have a good running group in your area to hook up with!
Though who on earth says a treadmill isn’t “real” running? What a strange thing to say.
Running is my therapy but treadmills just exacerbate my anxiety. Ha ha…
Seriously what is up with the Treadmill Time Phenomenon?
5 minutes running on a treadmill = 15 minutes running outside.
Agreed on Treadmill Time Phenomenon. I’m very lucky I live somewhere I can run outside year round. I don’t think I’d make it on a treadmill. If I’m tempted to bail on a run outdoors, I can’t because I have to get back home.
I know, it’s brutal. I know people who binge watch TV on the treadmill but I’m not really interested in doing that. So I only use the treadmill sparingly, like when it’s 20 below outside. I will concede I probably get a better workout because I can vary my terrain (I live in the flatlands) and I can do serious sprints.
Sarah has a lovely figure.
The producer sounds like an a55.
My ex fiancée was in that movie in one scene, extra basically, I remember remarking at what a lovely figure Sarah has when I saw the movie and he said yes she does, but in person she’s really tiny. Not sure what he meant?
Still I thought she looked amazing in the film.
Has she ever talked about having body image issues? That would be a reason not to send her a treadmill…
I thought you meant he sent one recently. She’s tiny! It’s a different world in Hollywood. That gift is probably perfectly acceptable there.
She always been tiny. Even back in the early 80s.
I would be excited too except that she does mention that it was important to be fit for the movie.
I’ve seen SJP in a lot of movies and not once did I think she needed to get fit
man, that was a funny movie. Long live the Flying Elvises!
I am more shocked by the fact she can slap her name on a pair of rather ugly looking shoes and charge over 500.00! I mean, are people really that daft to buy them?
I adore SJP. I take her uncritically.
Me too. I really like her and her body is freakin fantastic IMO.
I don’t know…I used to think I’d love to have a treader in my apartment but over the past year or so, I’ve def changed my mind. Pretty ironic considering I finally have an apartment that’s big enough to fit a treadmill or small gym. The thing is, I only ever use the treadmill at my gym if I have time to kill before a class, and then I use it to do short, fast runs like 3 or 4 miles at 9.0. Otherwise, I would much, MUCH rather run outside.
I remember when I was training for my half marathon a couple years ago. It was winter and I was forced to train on the treadmill. Some days I did 15 miles on that thing and I’m still amazed I was able to get through it. SO damn boring.
Since I moved, I started running outside more, and now it’s so much harder to run on the treadmill when I can’t get outside (this girl does not run in inclement weather). To compensate, I turn my music up really loud and sing along (in my head). Except I’m worried that one of these days, I’m going to lose myself in that last big push and actually start singing out loud.
I love my treadmill. I was hit by a car while running outside and I’m also very prone to stepping in every hole or tripping over every bump, so I feel much safer inside. I still walk outside and the treadmill makes good music an absolute necessity, because it is boring, but at least I’m alive. Lol
I got hit by a car too while running 7 years ago. I hadn’t slept enough and wasn’t paying attention and…bam. I used to run with my ipod but I never do that anymore for safety reasons and because I find it easier to zone out without music.
On a treadmill though I HAVE to have music or I’ll kill myself.
Ouch! Poor kitten! I was also listening to music – a tape – it was quite some time ago, obviously. It’s good that you got over it. I can’t do the treadmill without music, either. And it’s boring with music, even, but it gets the job done.
Well, CB, sounds like you wouldn’t like my 90’s spinning playlist. Truth be told Everybody Dance Now is my least favorite song on that soundtrack, too. But 90’s is one of my most popular playlists. I mean who doesn’t like Vanilla Ice and a little Marky Mark?? Although I prefer to run to hip/hop and rap. I will play Nicki Minaj on a loop and take off…
I’d also be really happy if someone sent me a treadmill. But it has to be a good one. Not one of these cheap models that you feel is going to fall apart when you take it faster than a brisk walk.
That doesn’t sound like a “I know you love to run” gift, that’s a “get it right, get it tight so you can be in our movie” gift. It’s gross.
Its even grosser when you see the state of James Caan in the same picture but then… he’s a man. I have no problem with studios organising trainers etc where the part requires fitness or weight loss (The Fighter..) but because she was going to be in a swimsuit….
Gotta love Hollywood.
She has always been tiny! The shoes are pretty blah, but the colors are very nice. She had a sandal last spring in the most gorgeous shade of aqua, but the Sale of my Dreams never happened-LOL!
I have an injured meniscus, so I can’t run or cycle for the next few months. I envy those of you who can. I miss running!
For now it is PT every week in addition to pilates, and…. I have become a swimmer. I have access to MIT’s pool, and I will swim and swim and swim until that knee behaves itself.
As for SJP: I am sick to death of the expensive shoe craze! SATC feels so dated to me now. I admire her fitness though– I feel envious. I wish that working out and perfecting my obliques were a part of my job so that I could deduct all those personal trainers etc. from my taxes! I have no problem with a producer requiring a certain level of fitness for a particular role. For some jobs, you just can’t show up with a food baby.
Oh, darn. My heart goes out to you, I hope you’re better soon. I’m also a runner and a weightlifter and because of epic stupidity I brought a tennis elbow upon myself this spring. So I couldn’t go to the gym anymore and it quickly became way to hot for my long runs here in the old world. It drove me nuts! So, I can totally relate. Hang in there!
Also, *thanks* CB. That terribly song is going to stay with me for a while now…
You’re unearthing something from 23 years ago and attempting to connect it to the modern shaming culture?
“Modern shaming culture” is an ugly flower with millennia-old roots and vines.
I don’t know, if she’d mentioned to the producer that she’d been running outside when she could, sending a treadmill for convenience could be considered a nice gesture. But if it’s like “hey, you need this” with no prior discussion, no way.
I can’t run due to a back problem (and hating it anyway) but I do like to walk, and have a treadmill in my garage. I like going outside too, but it’s nice to have the option to be inside and go at any time, plus my wifi works there and I can watch Netflix on it.
I don’t feel it was shaming–just the 90s version of having a trainer and nutritionist work with an actor to get them in shape for a particular role. Actors, male and female, do it all the time for action movies and we don’t call it shaming, we call it preparing for a role.
The question is – did the director also send one to the male lead? (Full confession, I haven’t seen this movie, I just assume there is a male lead given that the word Honeymoon is in the title).
She looks good in these photos. So why do they photoshop her to oblivion and make her look freakish on every magazine cover?
Producers are awful people, as a rule, but they’re not blind. That woman has never been overweight a day in her life. Clearly this was just a present, not a coded slap.
She is (or was) definitely a hardcore runner, I used to see her running in the West Village/SoHo in the 90’s era and she was TINY. No such thing as too thin in Hollywood, gross.