Podcast Summary: Are You A Charlotte?

Episode: "Is It You? With Bridget Moynahan aka Natasha"

Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Kristin Davis
Guest: Bridget Moynahan (Natasha from Sex and the City)

Overview

In this episode, Kristin Davis (Charlotte from Sex and the City) is joined by Bridget Moynahan, who played the much-discussed Natasha. Together, they dive deep into untold behind-the-scenes stories, personal reflections from their time on Sex and the City, and broader themes of female experience, growth, and perspective—both as actresses and as the characters they brought to life. The conversation is candid, heartfelt, and full of insider insights, especially for longtime fans of the show.

Main Discussion & Key Insights

Bridget’s Confessions: Not Your Typical Actor

• Bridget Admits She Doesn't Watch Herself—Or the Show
  • Bridget reveals she hasn’t watched most of Sex and the City and rarely revisits her own work, including Coyote Ugly.
  • Quote: “I’ve never watched the full seasons of Sex and the City and nobody knows that.” (03:57)
  • She explains feeling self-critical watching herself and prefers to focus on the work in the moment rather than on playback.
  • Kristin shares this is more common among actors than fans might think, breaking the myth that actors love rewatching their own performances.

Landing the Roles: Right Place, Right Time

• Parallel Audition Stories
  • Bridget discusses getting cast for both Coyote Ugly and Sex and the City around the same days, humorously reflecting on non-stop dance auditions.
  • Quote: “I had to dance multiple days, dancing in front of directors and producers. To Prince.” (05:44)
  • Bridget was confident in her dancing (despite no formal training) and recalls the unique energy she brought—distinguishing her from classically trained dancers.

First Experiences on “Sex and the City”

• Jumping In: Feeling Like "Bambi"

  • Bridget likens joining the show to suddenly leaping into a fast-paced double-dutch jump rope contest.
  • Kristin praises her ability to immediately embody the poised, confident Natasha, even with just one line in her first scene.
  • Quote: “You were so present...so beautifully cast. You have such power and resonance.” (08:14)

• Audition Process and Early Uncertainty

  • Bridget waited an hour for her turn, had one line (“Nice to meet you”), and almost left due to other obligations—her agent convinced her to stay.
  • She confirms Natasha was originally slated for a very minor part; the character expanded due to Bridget’s screen presence.

Character Dynamics: Natasha’s Impact & Viewer Reaction

• Being the ‘Other Woman’—and the Fan Backlash

  • Bridget shares that fans sometimes blamed her personally for being “in the way” of the beloved Big-and-Carrie relationship.
    • Quote: “No, she was having an affair with my husband. Let’s break this down!” (24:17)
  • She points out the double standards in how viewers processed the affair storyline, and recalls defending Natasha’s innocence to fans.

• Natasha as a Character

  • Kristin discusses the unique pain of seeing Natasha with Big: her confidence, coolness, and collected demeanor sharply contrasted with Carrie’s messier emotionality—creating a “gut-punch” for viewers.
    • Quote: “You have one line, but the way you are with him...it’s like a punch to the gut for her and all of us.” (09:00)
  • They discuss how, in the narrative, Natasha and Carrie are mirror opposites—both “perfect” for Big in different ways.

Personal Reflections & Emotional Honesty

• Kristin’s Guilt About Early On-Set Dynamics

  • Kristin confesses she feels bad for not reaching out to Bridget when she first joined the set, realizing later she had internalized Charlotte’s worldview and subconscious biases about Natasha/Bridget.
    • Quote: “Normally I’d try to proactively be friendly...but because you were the nemesis I was quiet. I feel bad about that.” (17:17)
  • Bridget reassures her and mentions their later, friendlier encounters in LA gyms years afterward.

• Growth, Distance, and Reunion

  • They discuss how returning for And Just Like That was “a nice reunion,” and reflect on how time and maturity reshaped their approach to work and each other.
    • Quote: “Time and distance and...growth. Getting to play the same characters, but with growth within the characters.” (19:07)

The Unpredictability of Acting Careers

• Breaking Into Acting and ‘Coyote Ugly’

  • Bridget describes being unaware of Hollywood’s power players early on, treating each audition as equal due to her obliviousness—something that helped her performance nerves.
    • Quote: “You can’t ever know what’s going to be a hit or not.” (30:17)

• On Momentum and Not Over-Analyzing

  • Bridget is open about not analyzing her career—embracing each opportunity as it came, rather than fixating on outcomes or “success.”
  • She notes working with A-listers like Ben Affleck, Al Pacino, and Colin Farrell, staying grounded and lucky.

Industry Evolution: Auditions, Social Media, and Self-Perception

• Changing Audition Processes

  • Both discuss the evolution from intimidating in-person auditions to the current era of self-tapes, and share their preferences (Bridget likes live auditions).
  • Bridget points out that she avoids watching her performances to prevent over-focusing on her appearance—a response shaped by her modeling background.

• Modern Fame and Social Media

  • They empathize with younger stars like Sydney Sweeney, who face immense online scrutiny and a lack of privacy that the previous generations were somewhat spared (though paparazzi were already intense).
    • Quote: “Social media is a whole business now, really...for us, the idea of just inviting people into your house to film you—that’s weird.” (48:22)

Behind the Scenes: Expanding Roles and Unplanned Success

• Why Natasha Became Such a Big Part

  • Reiterated by Kristin: Natasha was planned as a brief character, but Bridget’s presence changed that, drawing more from the writers.
    • Quote: “I think you showed up and everyone was like—she’s perfect.” (38:40)
  • Bridget recalls Chris Noth (“Big”) often forgetting she was his on-screen wife during fleeting shooting schedules.

• Missed and Realized Opportunities

  • Kristin shares Natasha was supposed to reappear in a third movie that never happened, but the writers remained eager to give Natasha closure—a wish somewhat granted in And Just Like That.

Expanding Beyond Acting

• Transition to Directing

  • Bridget narrates her pathway into directing on Blue Bloods, revitalizing her engagement with the industry and appreciating the new challenge.
    • Quote: “I like being on that side of the camera...it really revived my interest in the business.” (52:50)
  • She finds acting and directing simultaneously to be a unique challenge, requiring self-reliance and trust in collaborators.

• Balancing Career and Family Life

  • Bridget discusses prioritizing her teenage son and taking her first conscious break from non-stop work since high school.
    • Quote: “This is the first time I’ve had a nice, conscious break.” (54:08)

Legacy and Gratitude

• Both reflect on the rarity and luxury of steady, evolving careers in Hollywood. They express gratitude for opportunities in long-running franchises (Sex and the City, Blue Bloods, John Wick).
• Bridget celebrates the ongoing connections—sharing that Blue Bloods spinoff “Boston and Blue” will involve her both as an actor and director.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bridget on Natasha’s Reception:
  “No, she was having an affair with my husband. Let’s break this down!” (24:17)

• Kristin on Natasha’s Impact:
  “You have one line...but it’s like a punch to the gut for her and for all of us.” (09:00)

• Bridget on Not Watching Herself:
  “I’ve never watched the full seasons of Sex and the City...not even to my priest. Wow. Big, big.” (03:57)

• On the Audition Experience:
  “I was waiting an hour to say: ‘Nice to meet you’...but so worth it.” (11:37)

• On Career Luck:
  “You can’t ever know what’s going to be a hit or not.” (30:17)

• On Social Media:
  “Social media is a whole business now, really...for us, the idea of just inviting people into your house to film you—that’s weird.” (48:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:57 – Bridget’s surprising confession: never watched entire Sex and the City seasons
• 05:44 – Nabbing Coyote Ugly and Sex and the City roles at the same time
• 08:14–10:01 – Kristin and Bridget discuss Natasha’s first impacts and why she lingered
• 17:17 – Kristin apologizes for being distant on set, realizes she internalized Charlotte’s attitude
• 24:17 – Bridget describes fans blaming her/Natasha, even though Carrie was “the other woman”
• 30:17 – Bridget talks about not knowing which projects will succeed or flop
• 38:40 – Kristin credits Bridget’s presence for expanding Natasha’s role
• 44:10–45:06 – Bridget on shifting from modeling to acting and the whirlwind of early fame
• 48:22 – Actors reflect on today’s social media pressures vs. “old-school” celebrity
• 52:50 – Bridget’s expanding directing career and how it reignited her industry passion
• 54:08 – Taking a break to focus on family and personal time

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is intimate, confessional, and at times humorous and nostalgic. Both Kristin and Bridget are open about vulnerability, the quirks of Hollywood, and the real emotions behind playing their famous roles. The conversation maintains warmth, honesty, and camaraderie—a treat for fans seeking genuine insights beyond celebrity surface.

For Listeners

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be both inside and outside the “Sex and the City” phenomenon, or how actresses process decades of public scrutiny, evolving industry norms, and their own on-screen alter egos, this episode offers rare, refreshing clarity. Whether you’re “a Charlotte” or “a Natasha,” the takeaways about growth, empathy, and unexpected career turns are universal.