Blair Underwood Turned Down 'Sex and the City' Role to Avoid Being Fetishized
SEXY AND THE CITY SHOCKER: BLAIR UNDERWOOD REVEALS WHY HE TURNED DOWN ROLE ON HIT SHOW (AND IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING MORE THAN A "CURIOSITY"!)
In a jaw-dropping revelation, Sex and the City's Blair Underwood has spilled the tea on why he initially turned down a role on the iconic show. And let us tell you, it's all about being more than just a "curiosity"!
The dashing 61-year-old actor revealed that he was approached to play a love interest of Kim Cattrall's sassy character Samantha, but with a twist - she was curious about black men's anatomy! Blair was not having it, and for good reason. In an interview on the show Q with Tom Power, he explained why he politely declined the offer.
"It was a storyline where Kim Cattrall's character, Samantha, had a curiosity about Black men and Black men's anatomy, and she wanted to know if it was true," Blair shared. "The reason I passed - I didn't say this to them at the time - was I did not want to be a curiosity."
And we can see why! Being reduced to a mere "curiosity" is a fate worse than being single on Valentine's Day (if you know what we mean). But, as they say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Blair decided to take another look at the show and asked if he could play a different role.
Fast forward a few years later, producers offered him the part of Dr. Robert Leeds - a love interest to Cynthia Nixon's character Miranda Hobbes. This time around, things were different. "I said, 'Well, is he the Black guy, is he the curiosity of these characters, or can he just be a human being that falls in love?'" Blair recalled.
"And they said, 'No, no it's the latter.' ... It worked out and I loved it. I'm glad I did, because I almost said no."
We're so glad you took a chance on us, Blair! And it seems like his gamble paid off big time. In another interview with AV Club, he shared that being on Sex and the City was a highlight of his career. "I think it (my race) really did only come up maybe once," he said. "I did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating."
But what really stood out to Blair was how respectful the show's writers were when handling his character. "They said, 'No, he's just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing." Ah, we're melting over here!
And if you thought that was all, folks, think again! Blair also dished about his love life, revealing that he married his longtime friend Josie Hart in 2023. The pair got engaged just 18 months after his divorce from Desiree DaCosta, who he wed back in 1994 (yes, the same year LA Law came to an end).
But what really caught our attention was Blair's heartfelt message about their relationship. "She's had my back since before I even became an actor," he gushed. "When a 41-year friendship slaps you in the back of the head & blossoms into romance, you stand up, pay attention & step forward in gratitude."
Aww, isn't that just the sweetest thing? And it seems like Blair's found his perfect match with Josie.
But before we dive into the juicy deets about their love story, let's take a trip down memory lane. Remember when Blair and Desiree DaCosta announced they were separating in 2021? They shared a joint statement on Instagram, saying they would remain "best of friends" and continue to focus on their three children.
"We have always put their best interests first & will continue to do so," the statement read. "We will continue to be the best of friends and co-parents and have the utmost respect for one another as we embark on this new chapter of our lives, separately."
And now, Blair's moving on with Josie, who seems like a perfect match (based on their adorable Instagram posts). So, what do you say? Are you ready to get cozy with Blair Underwood and his latest love interest?
Sources:
- TheScholarlyNote.com
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