Sex and the City: Where to Watch in Ireland & Trivia

Anyone who’s ever clutched a cosmo at brunch or argued about which Mr. Big moment broke them most knows Sex and the City left a mark on pop culture. Nearly two decades after the original series ended, fans are still hunting for streaming options, obsessing over casting what-ifs, and speculating about what really happened behind the scenes. This guide answers the questions that keep surfacing—from where to watch in Ireland to cast feuds and a few surprising production secrets.

Seasons: 6 · Episodes: 94 · Original run: 1998-2004 · Created by: Darren Star · Based on: 1996 book by Candace Bushnell

This key facts table summarizes the essential details about the series.

Where can I watch Sex and the City in Ireland?

For Irish viewers, the streaming landscape for Sex and the City has some quirks worth knowing. While Netflix doesn’t carry the series in most regions, HBO Max remains the primary home for streaming episodes in Ireland.

Streaming platforms available

The original Sex and the City series is available on HBO Max in Ireland and other international markets where the service operates. According to Max (the HBO Max successor), subscribers can stream all six seasons on demand. For the sequel series And Just Like That…, the Irish Examiner reported that it premiered on Sky Comedy and Now TV in Ireland, with the first two episodes available to stream on Now TV at launch.

Regional availability notes

The Irish Examiner confirmed that viewing parties for And Just Like That… were held in Cork at venues like Crawford and Co, with admission starting at €5 (or €25 with bottomless bubbles) and two-for-one cosmopolitan cocktails on offer. Sky Comedy aired episodes at 9pm on Thursday evenings. However, free streaming options remain limited—Sex and the City viewing in Ireland currently relies on Sky/Now TV subscriptions or public viewing events without confirmed free alternatives.

The implication: Irish fans face a choice between subscription services or community events for official viewing access.

Who turned down the role of Carrie in Sex and the City?

One of the most intriguing “what if” stories from the casting process involves actress Dana Delany, who was reportedly offered the role of Carrie Bradshaw before Sarah Jessica Parker was cast. According to entertainment reporting from that era, Delany declined the part, which ultimately went to Parker and launched her career into an entirely different trajectory.

Dana Delany’s decision

While details on exactly why Delany passed on the role aren’t fully documented in primary sources, the casting story has become a piece of television trivia. Had she accepted, the dynamic of the show’s ensemble might have shifted considerably given how central Parker’s interpretation was to the character’s identity.

Other casting considerations

The successful casting of the four leads—Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones, Kristin Davis as Charlotte York, and Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes—created a chemistry that became central to the show’s appeal. According to Variety’s retrospective coverage, showrunner Darren Star and HBO executives were deliberate in assembling this specific quartet, and the resulting cast dynamic is frequently cited as a key to the series’ longevity.

What is the age gap between Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big?

The Carrie-Mr. Big relationship is central to Sex and the City’s drama, and the age dynamic between these characters has been a topic of fan discussion. Carrie Bradshaw was written as being in her early-to-mid 30s during the series, while Mr. Big was portrayed as a successful financier with an implied age difference that suggested he was notably older.

Character ages revealed

While the show didn’t always state explicit ages for Mr. Big, actor Chris North, who played the character, is approximately 11 years older than Sarah Jessica Parker in real life, which translated to the on-screen dynamic. The series occasionally referenced Carrie being in her late 30s by the final seasons, and Mr. Big’s backstory implied he had established his career and lifestyle well before meeting Carrie.

Impact on storyline

The age gap factored into storylines about commitment, stability, and the pressures of dating someone with a more established life. Several episodes explored how these dynamics played out, and the power imbalance contributed to tensions that drive major plot points throughout the series.

What this means: The real-world age difference between the actors informed the character dynamic and added authenticity to the power imbalance narrative.

Why don’t Kim Cattrall and SJP get along?

The tension between Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker became one of the most publicized cast conflicts in recent television memory, overshadowing the show itself during the later years and the And Just Like That… development. The disagreement reportedly centered on professional boundaries and public statements rather than a single dramatic incident.

Feud timeline

The public conflict escalated around 2017-2018 when Kim Cattrall announced she would not return for a potential third Sex and the City film, citing personal reasons and suggesting mistreatment on set. Sarah Jessica Parker publicly denied hostile behavior, stating she was “sad” about the situation. The Grazia magazine coverage captured how the disagreement played out in public statements, with both actresses offering different framings of the same events.

Public statements

Cattrall was more vocal on social media, posting messages that implied ongoing resentment about the work environment. Parker took a more measured public approach, respecting Cattrall’s privacy while navigating press questions about the conflict. Their different public communication styles contributed to the narrative taking on a life of its own in fan discussions and media coverage.

The catch: Cattrall’s departure fundamentally altered the sequel’s ensemble dynamics, forcing writers to reckon with the missing fourth lead.

Did they have real sex on Sex and the City?

The question of authenticity behind Sex and the City’s intimate scenes has been a recurring fan curiosity. While the show depicts explicit content, the series employed professional intimacy coordinators and used simulated sexual encounters rather than actual intercourse.

Behind-the-scenes intimacy

According to interviews with the cast, including comments reported by Harper’s Bazaar, the actresses drew from personal experiences to inform emotional beats in intimate scenes, but the physical aspects were choreographed and simulated. The series was known for pushing cable television boundaries, but all explicit content was performance rather than reality.

Real events inspiration

What some fans interpret as “real” in Sex and the City relates more to the emotional honesty the series brought to discussions of female sexuality, desire, and relationship dynamics. The show was based on Candace Bushnell’s newspaper column and book, which drew from real New York social scenes, but the television adaptation fictionalized and dramatized these inspirations for entertainment purposes.

“The next chapter of Sex and the City arrives on our screens today on Sky Comedy and Now TV,” Irish Examiner (Irish entertainment publication) reported.

“This movie is, without a doubt, a full-blown crime against humanity,” The Tab (UK student media) wrote of Sex and the City 2, capturing critical reception of the 2010 sequel.

Related reading: Rick and Morty Season 8: Release Date, Episodes, Where to Watch

Frequently asked questions