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American Morning
Talk with Sarah Jessica Parker
Aired October 17, 2002 - 08:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Sarah Jessica Parker knows a thing or two about dressing up and playing a part. The "Sex and the City" star is also a U.N. national ambassador, and she joins us to talk about this year's trick or treat for UNICEF campaign.
First of all, good morning.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER, ACTRESS: Good morning to you.
ZAHN: Congratulations and all of the great success you've had.
PARKER: Thank you very much.
ZAHN: Before we talk about UNICEF, which I know you're passionate about, how are you feeling?
PARKER: I feel great. Thanks. I feel really good.
ZAHN: When is your due date?
PARKER: Could have it right now, live on CNN.
ZAHN: We have a couple of guys that have delivered kids before.
PARKER: Honestly, I'm not being cagey. From now on, you now, until the very near future is my due date.
ZAHN: Go home tonight, if it doesn't happen here on the set, eat some chocolate cake and Chinese food, and you'll have a baby by this time tomorrow.
PARKER: I feel I've had that meal fairly recently.
ZAHN: Let's talk UNICEF now. Why do you care so much about UNICEF?
PARKER: I think from the time I was a very, very young person, I have just wonderful vivid memories of collecting for UNICEF. It was a big part of our (UNINTELLIGIBLE) experience, back to school time. And I don't know, my mother was a huge supporter of UNICEF, I'm sure long before I was born. The greetings cards at Christmas and the calendars over the course of the year, and of course, collecting these boxes over time, and I'm an old lady now, so they've changed quite a bit.
I don't know, I think there is something about being a child and being part of an effort in which you can contribute that is empowering and it makes you feel special and important, and you sort of -- this country has a great tradition of volunteerism, and it's sort of being part of something bigger, and the quiet competition of whose box is heavier by the end of the evening.
There is something just wonderful in my mind about all those years spent collecting for UNICEF. So when they came to me a few years ago and asked would I participate in some fund-raising stuff for them, I thought, wow, it was very cyclical for me, and I thought, I would like to encourage young people. We don't have the same kind of attention paid always. Organizations can go in and out of being sort of the sexy and en vogue. And UNICEF has been there and here for really, really long time, and I just think they do the kind of work that simply nobody else does. And they go to far away places that are dangerous and unstable, and educate and immunize and change the world and change children. And so this is my little part of being part of them.
ZAHN: That's very important. I think what is so interesting about your story is -- you've talked openly about this before, your family was on welfare, you had eight kids in your family. Even though there were periods of time when your phone service was cut, your mother never gave up on the UNICEF mission. That's pretty incredible.
PARKER: I think some times it sounds far more Dickensian than it was. I mean, there were times the bills weren't paid, and we were on government assistance for a while, but I think that doesn't -- you know, being a part of a segment of a population that is all relied upon the government doesn't mean you're uneducated, or that you're not cultured or interested in the world outside yourself. And I think people are wrapped up often in this idea that philanthropy only comes from wealth.
And although there are some very philanthropic wealthy corporations that are involved in trick or treating for UNICEF -- McDonalds, Ikea, Pier 1 Imports, Sears portrait studios -- individuals like to be involved. My mother felt like this was a really great way of being civic minded, and knowing about the world and being socially conscious. And I think that people that know and love UNICEF respond to it that way, regardless of what color you are, or where you came from, or who you are or what part of the world you live in.
The woman that does my makeup, she is from Germany, and she did this as a child and it's very connective tissue for a lot of people.
ZAHN: How do the kids go about getting these this year?
PARKER: Well, like I said, you can go to McDonalds, which I think will be giving away 20 million boxes, which is really important. You can go to Ikea. You can go to Pier One imports.
ZAHN: All those companies mentioned, you can get them.
PARKER: Yes. Pier One Imports, Sears photo studio. Today is the last day you can order them 1-800-252-KIDS. You can order them without the cost of any shipping. There is as Web site, which is UNICEF usa.org. And then there are great instructions on the back. You can take them to any Coin Star if you have one in your neighborhood, in your community, and you turn in the money. And if not, there are instructions on how to take care of it. It's very, very simple, and it's thrilling for a child and it's very available.
You can go to your parents, your teachers, often churches and neighborhoods have them available. So hopefully they're available to everybody.
ZAHN: And what happens to Sarah Jessica Parker when she returns as Carrie Bradshaw post mommy track?
PARKER: Hopefully, she fits into the outfits that Pat Fields (ph) picks for her.
ZAHN: I have no doubt on that.
PARKER: I don't have a clue. I don't know. I'll know after Thanksgiving what the storyline looks like for the season.
ZAHN: And there is new book out called "Kiss and Tell." It's right here. Are we going to learn any secrets that will just knock us off our chairs here?
PARKER: Well, it's not so much they were secrets; it's just things that really only crew members and cast members were privy to. It's a pretty intimate, wonderfully intimate, look at our set and pictures that our photographer has taken for five years, and I've taken, and wonderful interviews of people we've never met before. Crew members are devoted, a wonderful crew.
ZAHN: It's a fun read.
PARKER: And it's a nice, quality book.
ZAHN: And It's in hot pink. Yes, indeed. Can't miss that cover.
PARKER: Maybe while you're picking up your UNICEF box, you can pick up a book.
ZAHN: Well, have a happy, healthy baby.
PARKER: Thank you very much.
ZAHN: Our best to you and Matthew.
PARKER: Thanks so much.
ZAHN: I'm telling you, chocolate cake, Chinese food, same meal, you will have good news to report this time tomorrow morning.
PARKER: Thank you for taking the time to talk about UNICEF.
ZAHN: Our pleasure. We think it's very important.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 17, 2002 - 08:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Sarah Jessica Parker knows a thing or two about dressing up and playing a part. The "Sex and the City" star is also a U.N. national ambassador, and she joins us to talk about this year's trick or treat for UNICEF campaign.
First of all, good morning.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER, ACTRESS: Good morning to you.
ZAHN: Congratulations and all of the great success you've had.
PARKER: Thank you very much.
ZAHN: Before we talk about UNICEF, which I know you're passionate about, how are you feeling?
PARKER: I feel great. Thanks. I feel really good.
ZAHN: When is your due date?
PARKER: Could have it right now, live on CNN.
ZAHN: We have a couple of guys that have delivered kids before.
PARKER: Honestly, I'm not being cagey. From now on, you now, until the very near future is my due date.
ZAHN: Go home tonight, if it doesn't happen here on the set, eat some chocolate cake and Chinese food, and you'll have a baby by this time tomorrow.
PARKER: I feel I've had that meal fairly recently.
ZAHN: Let's talk UNICEF now. Why do you care so much about UNICEF?
PARKER: I think from the time I was a very, very young person, I have just wonderful vivid memories of collecting for UNICEF. It was a big part of our (UNINTELLIGIBLE) experience, back to school time. And I don't know, my mother was a huge supporter of UNICEF, I'm sure long before I was born. The greetings cards at Christmas and the calendars over the course of the year, and of course, collecting these boxes over time, and I'm an old lady now, so they've changed quite a bit.
I don't know, I think there is something about being a child and being part of an effort in which you can contribute that is empowering and it makes you feel special and important, and you sort of -- this country has a great tradition of volunteerism, and it's sort of being part of something bigger, and the quiet competition of whose box is heavier by the end of the evening.
There is something just wonderful in my mind about all those years spent collecting for UNICEF. So when they came to me a few years ago and asked would I participate in some fund-raising stuff for them, I thought, wow, it was very cyclical for me, and I thought, I would like to encourage young people. We don't have the same kind of attention paid always. Organizations can go in and out of being sort of the sexy and en vogue. And UNICEF has been there and here for really, really long time, and I just think they do the kind of work that simply nobody else does. And they go to far away places that are dangerous and unstable, and educate and immunize and change the world and change children. And so this is my little part of being part of them.
ZAHN: That's very important. I think what is so interesting about your story is -- you've talked openly about this before, your family was on welfare, you had eight kids in your family. Even though there were periods of time when your phone service was cut, your mother never gave up on the UNICEF mission. That's pretty incredible.
PARKER: I think some times it sounds far more Dickensian than it was. I mean, there were times the bills weren't paid, and we were on government assistance for a while, but I think that doesn't -- you know, being a part of a segment of a population that is all relied upon the government doesn't mean you're uneducated, or that you're not cultured or interested in the world outside yourself. And I think people are wrapped up often in this idea that philanthropy only comes from wealth.
And although there are some very philanthropic wealthy corporations that are involved in trick or treating for UNICEF -- McDonalds, Ikea, Pier 1 Imports, Sears portrait studios -- individuals like to be involved. My mother felt like this was a really great way of being civic minded, and knowing about the world and being socially conscious. And I think that people that know and love UNICEF respond to it that way, regardless of what color you are, or where you came from, or who you are or what part of the world you live in.
The woman that does my makeup, she is from Germany, and she did this as a child and it's very connective tissue for a lot of people.
ZAHN: How do the kids go about getting these this year?
PARKER: Well, like I said, you can go to McDonalds, which I think will be giving away 20 million boxes, which is really important. You can go to Ikea. You can go to Pier One imports.
ZAHN: All those companies mentioned, you can get them.
PARKER: Yes. Pier One Imports, Sears photo studio. Today is the last day you can order them 1-800-252-KIDS. You can order them without the cost of any shipping. There is as Web site, which is UNICEF usa.org. And then there are great instructions on the back. You can take them to any Coin Star if you have one in your neighborhood, in your community, and you turn in the money. And if not, there are instructions on how to take care of it. It's very, very simple, and it's thrilling for a child and it's very available.
You can go to your parents, your teachers, often churches and neighborhoods have them available. So hopefully they're available to everybody.
ZAHN: And what happens to Sarah Jessica Parker when she returns as Carrie Bradshaw post mommy track?
PARKER: Hopefully, she fits into the outfits that Pat Fields (ph) picks for her.
ZAHN: I have no doubt on that.
PARKER: I don't have a clue. I don't know. I'll know after Thanksgiving what the storyline looks like for the season.
ZAHN: And there is new book out called "Kiss and Tell." It's right here. Are we going to learn any secrets that will just knock us off our chairs here?
PARKER: Well, it's not so much they were secrets; it's just things that really only crew members and cast members were privy to. It's a pretty intimate, wonderfully intimate, look at our set and pictures that our photographer has taken for five years, and I've taken, and wonderful interviews of people we've never met before. Crew members are devoted, a wonderful crew.
ZAHN: It's a fun read.
PARKER: And it's a nice, quality book.
ZAHN: And It's in hot pink. Yes, indeed. Can't miss that cover.
PARKER: Maybe while you're picking up your UNICEF box, you can pick up a book.
ZAHN: Well, have a happy, healthy baby.
PARKER: Thank you very much.
ZAHN: Our best to you and Matthew.
PARKER: Thanks so much.
ZAHN: I'm telling you, chocolate cake, Chinese food, same meal, you will have good news to report this time tomorrow morning.
PARKER: Thank you for taking the time to talk about UNICEF.
ZAHN: Our pleasure. We think it's very important.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
