‘Sex and the City’ Creator Spills Which Crazy Carrie Stories Are Really True: ‘People Are Usually Surprised’

Candace Bushnell, the creator of Sex and the City, is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at her life through her one-woman show, Candace Bushnell: Tales of Sex, Success and Sex in the City. In an interview with People, Bushnell opened up about which parts of the hit HBO series were inspired by her own experiences and admitted that people are usually surprised by the truth.

“Originally, Carrie Bradshaw was basically me, and that’s one of the things that’s a big part of the show,” Bushnell said. She explained that her stage show, particularly the segment called “Real or Not Real,” highlights which storylines were drawn from her personal life.

Bushnell shared that the characters Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda all have connections to her real-life experiences, especially in the early seasons. “Carrie Bradshaw is the character that was based on me, probably closer at the beginning of the series, and then it takes on a life of its own, which is fantastic because you want that to happen,” she said. She also revealed that some plotlines, like Carrie’s relationship with Mr. Big, did not mirror her real-life love story. “I didn’t end up with my Mr. Big. I do tell that story about our breakup,” she added.

Bushnell developed the show during the COVID-19 pandemic. She admitted that starting a one-woman play seemed impossible at first. “It seemed impossible to write a play for somebody who had no connections; it just wasn’t gonna happen,” she said. Despite the challenges, she persisted, performing her show around the world, including multiple runs at Café Carlyle and sold-out performances at The London Palladium. “There were things that were really surprising that at first, I didn’t even know what it was going to be,” she noted.

The show gives fans a rare chance to see the personal experiences that inspired one of television’s most iconic series. Bushnell’s reflections remind audiences that Carrie Bradshaw’s adventures, while dramatized for TV, often have roots in the creator’s own life.

It’s fascinating to see how much of Sex and the City came from Bushnell’s real experiences. It shows that even stories that feel larger than life can have deeply personal origins. What do you think about the real-life inspirations behind the show? Share your thoughts in the comments.