Kim Cattrall still stands by her famous quote: 'It's something that I live by'

Trigger warning: This article contains themes of suicide and mental health issues that some readers may find distressing.

Kim Cattrall is standing by her iconic words. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, she declared, "I don't even want to be in a situation for even an hour where I'm not enjoying myself." Reflecting on this beloved quote, she explained, "When my first marriage fell apart, I didn't know if I was going to be OK for a long time. I've always been more insecure personally than professionally. When we met, we had the same goal, but then he couldn't see that my need to work and express myself was as important as his. I realized I wasn't going to change his mind and I couldn't compromise who I was."

The interview also covered her grief over the death of her brother, who died by suicide in 2018. "I'm still in a state after losing my younger brother Chris to suicide last year. He was only 55 and the shock of his death was so extreme that I can't fill that void. It's made me more aware of how fragile we all are. It can happen to any of us," she said at the time, explaining that she wants "to choose who I spend time with personally and professionally. It's my life. I lost my dad seven years ago to Alzheimer's and mum has just turned 90. I've become aware there's only so much time left."

Her quote has found its way on greeting cards, T-shirts and even mugs sold online. "When I said it, it just made more sense than ever," she told TODAY in June 2023, adding, "I stand by that, especially when things get complicated. It's like checking in with yourself and saying, 'How am I feeling right now? Is this right for me? Is this right for now?'... It gives you some kind of a step back and a perspective on your life."

The "Sex and the City" star explained that she did not expect to make internet history with her words because it was just something she lived by and a motto that was "hard-won," she affirmed. "I have been in situations where I thought, 'This isn't the best place for me,'" she said. "And you have to listen to that instinct, it's there for a reason. It's there to protect you."

Cattrall last worked with her "Sex and the City" costars Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Parker in 2010 with the release of the film "Sex and the City 2." Cattrall has opened up about an alleged messy behind-the-scenes feud with her former colleagues over the years. "We've never been friends," Cattrall said in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan’s "Life Stories," reported CNN. "We've been colleagues and in some ways, it's a very healthy place to be because then you have a clear line between your professional life and relationship and your personal."

"This is really where I take to task the people from 'Sex and the City' and specifically, Sarah Jessica Parker, is that I think she could have been nicer," Cattrall added. "I really think she could have been nicer. I don't know what her issue is." Sarah Jessica Parker publicly addressed her rift by telling Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," "I found it very upsetting. That's not the way I recall our experience."

Editor's note: This article was originally published on June 30, 2023. It has since been updated.