Bridget Moynahan Reveals How Fans Have Changed on Natasha

Reflecting on her role as Natasha Naginsky in Sex and the City, Moynahan recently told Swooon that when fans first saw her character, many didn’t like Natasha. "At the time, everyone was rooting for Carrie," she explained. But as fans grew older, they began to realize that Natasha was deserving of support. "They now look back and think, 'We should’ve been on Natasha’s side.'"

In the series, Natasha became entangled in a love triangle between John "Mr. Big" Preston (played by Chris Noth) and Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker). Moynahan recalled how, during the original airing, fans were so invested in Big and Carrie’s relationship that Natasha was viewed as an obstacle, and her feelings were often disregarded. "It’s interesting to see how fans have matured with the show," she noted. "Now there’s a new generation of viewers, and it’s amazing how the show continues to grow and evolve."

Natasha made her debut in season 2 as Big’s fiancée, a woman who seemed to have everything Carrie felt she lacked—grace and sophistication. Carrie’s self-esteem took a blow when Big became engaged to Natasha after a brief relationship. As Big and Carrie resumed their romance midway through season 3, despite both being in relationships with other people, Natasha discovers Carrie at Big’s apartment. This leads to a dramatic moment where Natasha chases Carrie out and falls down the stairs, breaking her teeth. At that time, many fans viewed Natasha as the villain for preventing the popular couple from being together.

Moynahan, however, believes that both Carrie and Big were at fault. "Carrie was wrong, but so was Big," she emphasized.

With the premiere of And Just Like That, the sequel to Sex and the City, long-time fans have had the chance to reassess their views of characters like Carrie, Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Samantha (Kim Cattrall). While Samantha only made a brief appearance in season 2 of AJLT, Kim Cattrall has recently denied rumors of returning for season 3.

Other former cast members, such as Rosemarie DeWitt and Ron Livingston, have shared their experiences with intense fan reactions. Livingston, who played Jack Berger—the character who broke up with Carrie via a Post-it note—said fans would approach him while walking around New York, screaming at him. Similarly, Kyle MacLachlan, who portrayed Trey MacDougal, found that some fans mistakenly believed he had erectile dysfunction, just like his character.