Podcast Summary: Are You A Charlotte?
Episode: Stamp of Approval with Marcia Cross (S3 E13 "Escape From New York")
Host: Kristin Davis
Guest: Marcia Cross
Release Date: February 2, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
This episode is a nostalgic, heartwarming conversation between Kristin Davis (Charlotte from Sex and the City) and her longtime friend and fellow actress Marcia Cross (best known for Melrose Place and Desperate Housewives). The main theme intertwines reflections on their early Hollywood careers, the importance of friendship and mentorship, and behind-the-scenes insights into both the television industry and their personal growth. While anchored to the "Escape From New York" (Sex and the City) episode, the discussion weaves through memories of acting classes, 90s LA, and the significance of women supporting each other in a competitive industry.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Early Friendship and Shared History
- Kristin and Marcia reminisce about their friendship in the 1990s, when both were navigating fledgling acting careers in Los Angeles.
- They recall running around Santa Monica, rehearsing scenes, going to yoga, frequenting beloved magazine stands, and seeking community amid uncertainty.
[04:14] Marcia Cross: “Oh, my God. I just thought, am I a Charlotte? No. But I've always wanted to be a Charlotte.”
[05:10] Marcia Cross & Kristin Davis: Reflecting on feeling like “babies” in hindsight, though they didn’t see themselves that way at the time.
2. The Influence of Acting Coach Roy London
- Both actresses credit Roy London as a transformative figure in their careers and personal development.
- Roy’s approach: make every scene matter, bring high stakes and personal meaning even to “lame” TV scripts.
- Marcia recalls, “You never did a scene just to do a scene. You did a scene to save your life.” [08:07]
[09:23] Kristin Davis: “It hampered your actual creativity and the energetics of it… Roy was so special about… taking a really lame scene on the page… and kind of put something on top of it that meant something to you in that moment where you had stakes...”
- The impact of Roy London’s passing and his legacy in their craft and lives.
3. Daily Life and the 90s LA Scene
- Fond anecdotes about magazine stands, LA yoga culture ("the true Yoga Works"), and quirky habits – specifically, Kristin’s tendency to drive with her foot on the dashboard due to back comfort (and possible southern influences).
- Both reflect on their first LA homes, feeling “grounded,” and learning from each other’s strengths.
[13:14] Marcia Cross: “Kristen used to always get in the car and she'd take her foot and put it up on the dashboard... And so I drive like that now. And there isn't a time I do it where I don't think of Kristen.”
4. Shared Career Experiences: Melrose Place, Auditions, and the Realities of the Industry
- Behind-the-scenes survival: dealing with rapid-fire TV production, trying to bring depth to characters, pranking or “messing” with scene partners for real reactions.
- Marcia and Kristin discuss balancing high artistic standards (“the Roy perspective”) with the speed of soap/TV production, and the sometimes hilarious or awkward social dynamics on set.
[23:50] Kristin Davis: “I was often working with Andrew Shu... I would mess with him in scenes... try to get him present or whatever. And I remember he'd get really mad at me...”
- Both agree that shaking up complacent scene partners “probably brought [them] to life” [24:34].
5. Pivotal Career Moments: Getting Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives
- Kristin recalls her anxiety before "Sex and the City" and gratitude for Marcia’s steadying friendship.
- Marcia distinctly remembers predicting that Sex and the City would “change [Kristin’s] life” [28:01], and sharing that gut feeling.
- Marcia’s path post-Melrose Place: returning to school to study psychology, nearly leaving acting before landing Desperate Housewives.
Notable Quote [28:01]:
Marcia Cross: “I remember saying to you, this is going to change your life.”
Kristin Davis: “I don't remember that.”
Marcia Cross: “Oh, yes. You—oh yeah. I knew. I was like, this is a big deal.”
6. Being Women in Hollywood – Then and Now
- Discussion of evolving roles, support networks, and the importance of female friendship as a lifeline.
- How skepticism around women’s onscreen friendships in Sex and the City contrasted with their real-life closeness: “I just spent like three solid years with Marcia Cross... Thank God, right?” [16:16]
7. Reflections on Fame, Aging, and “Having it All”
- Both express gratitude for their journeys, highlight struggles and uncertainties, and how each other's qualities (Marcia’s “grounding," Kristin’s “light”) shaped them.
[42:48] Marcia Cross: “I needed your light.”
[42:49] Kristin Davis: “Thank you. That’s nice.”
8. New Chapters: Theater and Family
- Marcia is back to her theater roots, starring in Honor at the brand new Ruskin Theater in Santa Monica.
- They discuss the immediate feedback and “feeding” nature of theater versus the delayed payoff of television.
[38:49] Kristin Davis: “And you're currently doing a play, which I also love... I just want to mention that really quick before we ever talk about Sex and the City.”
[39:02] Marcia Cross: “So, yeah. So I'm very happy about it.”
“Sex and the City” Episode Segment: “Escape From New York”
(Timestamps approx. [40:13] onward)
- The LA double-episode ("Escape From New York") discussed as a nostalgic, slightly surreal look back at 90s/early 2000s LA and Hollywood culture.
- Reflections on the difference between scripted LA life and their lived experience—e.g., the Standard Hotel, Playboy Mansion, and the iconic blue Mustang.
- Filming anecdotes: Sarah Jessica Parker having to drive a stick-shift Mustang (“some stress, and they had to roll down a hill...” [46:29]), filming at the “Whiskey Ranch” bar with the mechanical bull.
- The challenges and quirks of shooting on location in LA versus New York, and the authentic thrill of working on legendary studio lots.
- Marcia's daughter is now watching Sex and the City, noting the generational reach of the show.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Marcia Cross: “You never did a scene just to do a scene. You did a scene to save your life.” [08:07]
- Kristin Davis: “It made you feel like, yes, I can do it. It can be done. Right. This is the way to do it.” [25:34]
- Marcia Cross (on predicting SatC’s success): “This is going to change your life, because I knew the people involved were good. And it was a great idea.” [28:01]
- Marcia Cross (on theater): “It feeds you as you’re doing it... It’s not like in the trailer and then you watch it later.” [39:56]
- Kristin Davis: “I just spent like three solid years with Marcia Cross... Thank God, right? I'm so thankful for that time that there was someone who I could trust...” [16:16]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [04:14 – 05:47] Reminiscing about the 90s, early career anxieties
- [07:07 – 09:47] Lessons from Roy London and acting philosophy
- [13:14 – 14:28] Quirky friendship habits and mutual influence
- [23:03 – 24:43] Behind the scenes at Melrose Place, scene partner dynamics
- [28:01 – 29:04] Marcia predicts Sex and the City will change Kristin’s life
- [38:49 – 40:13] Marcia’s return to theater and current projects
- [40:13 – 46:51] Detailed discussion on SATC’s LA episodes and filming stories
- [42:48 – 44:14] Reflections: friendship, gratitude, and women’s stories
Tone and Style
The conversation is warm, candid, and infused with gratitude and humor. Both women share mutual admiration, teasing, and genuine affection, enveloped in a reflective tone that values vulnerability and honesty. Their exchange offers rare insight into the realities of women’s friendships in Hollywood—and their lasting influence, both on and off the screen.
Conclusion
This episode is much more than a "rewatch" or a behind-the-scenes diary—it's a heartfelt look at the power of friendship, the lasting lessons of great mentors, and the unpredictable journey of life and career in Hollywood. Marcia and Kristin invite listeners into an intimate space of reminiscence, offering encouragement (“take a breath, everything’s going to be fine”) and wisdom for anyone pursuing a path in the arts, or navigating big changes and uncertainties.
For more stories and part two of this conversation, stay tuned to “Are You A Charlotte?”