The character of Samantha Jones remains one of the most iconic and beloved figures in television history, a symbol of unapologetic female power, sexual liberation, and fierce loyalty. Even years after the original Sex and the City series concluded and amidst the drama of the spin-off, And Just Like That... (AJLT), the world is still obsessed with the legendary publicist. As of December 2025, the narrative surrounding Samantha has seen its most recent—and likely final—updates, including a subtle but classic Season 3 appearance and a major personal milestone for the actress who brought her to life, Kim Cattrall.
The conversation is no longer about her absence, but about her enduring legacy and the terms of her spectacular, on-her-own-terms return to the franchise. The recent conclusion of And Just Like That... Season 3 has cemented Samantha's place in the universe, albeit from her new life in London, confirming that the bond with Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York will always exist, even if the friendship is long-distance and mostly text-based.
Kim Cattrall: Complete Biography and Recent Milestones (The Woman Behind the Legend)
The story of Samantha Jones is inseparable from the career and life of the woman who played her. Kim Cattrall has firmly moved on from the franchise, but her 2025 headlines prove she is just as fabulous as her on-screen alter-ego.
- Full Name: Kim Victoria Cattrall
- Date of Birth: August 21, 1956
- Place of Birth: Liverpool, England, UK
- Nationality: British-Canadian
- Early Career Highlights: Cattrall’s career spanned decades before Sex and the City, including roles in films like Police Academy (1984), Mannequin (1987), and Big Trouble in Little China (1986).
- Defining Role: Samantha Jones in Sex and the City (1998–2004) and two feature films (2008, 2010).
- Recent Television Roles: She has starred in other high-profile series, including the Hulu sitcom How I Met Your Father and the drama series Filthy Rich.
- Major 2025 Milestone: In a very recent and personal update, Kim Cattrall married her longtime partner, audio engineer Russell Thomas, in an intimate London ceremony in December 2025 after nine years of dating.
- Current Focus: Cattrall is focusing on new, challenging projects in development, is an ambassador for the Kew Gardens outside London, and spends time between London and her home on Vancouver Island, emphasizing that her life is now defined by "Kim" and not her characters.
The Final Chapter: Samantha Jones in And Just Like That... Season 3
Fans were desperate for more of Samantha after her memorable Season 2 moment, and the conclusion of And Just Like That... Season 3 brought a final, perfectly in-character check-in from the power publicist.
A Text-Only Cameo in Season 3
In June 2025, during Season 3, Episode 5 of the Max revival, Samantha Jones made a subtle, non-physical return via a text message exchange with Carrie Bradshaw. The brief moment instantly channeled the energy of the original series, providing a much-needed dose of Samantha's signature wit.
- The Setup: Carrie is annoyed by her new downstairs neighbor, an acclaimed biographer named Duncan Reeves, who complains about her walking in high heels in her Gramercy Park townhouse.
- The Exchange: Carrie texts Samantha, asking, "What do you know about Duncan Reeves?" Samantha, still the ultimate publicist with a vast network, replies, "They say he's a lot of fun. Why?"
- The Classic Quip: When Carrie clarifies, "He's living under me," Samantha delivers a perfectly suggestive, innuendo-filled response: "I wish he was under me."
This text cameo, complete with the original series' plucky score, was a final, fun, and natural way to acknowledge the enduring, if long-distance, friendship between Carrie and Samantha before the series ended in August 2025.
The Iconic Season 2 Return and the "Fabulous Flat"
The Season 3 text was a follow-up to Kim Cattrall’s highly anticipated, on-screen cameo in the AJLT Season 2 finale (August 2023). The brief, one-minute scene was a significant moment for the franchise, serving as a reconciliation of sorts between the characters, despite the real-life tension.
The scene involved Samantha, dressed in a fabulous red dress and silver trench coat, calling Carrie from a car near London's Heathrow Airport. She explained her flight to New York to surprise Carrie at her "Last Supper" farewell party for her old Upper East Side apartment was delayed.
The moment culminated in two major callbacks that delighted fans of the original show:
- The Farewell: Samantha asks Carrie to put her on speakerphone so she can "pay my respects" to the iconic apartment, delivering the now-famous line: "Thank you for everything, you f------ fabulous, fabulous flat."
- Annabelle Bronstein: When Carrie teases Samantha about her sudden British accent, Samantha replies by jokingly referring to herself as Annabelle Bronstein, a hilarious nod to a Season 6 episode of Sex and the City where she pretended to be a British publicist to get into the Soho House pool.
The Unflinching Truth: Why Kim Cattrall Will Not Return (And Why She Never Will)
While the cameos were a treat for fans, both Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP) have been clear that a permanent return for Samantha Jones is not on the cards. The creative and personal differences that led to Cattrall's original departure remain a key part of the franchise's modern history.
The Enduring SJP Feud
The alleged "catfight" narrative has followed the stars for decades, stemming from rumored tensions over money, with Cattrall reportedly negotiating for a higher salary after SJP received an executive producer title and a pay bump during the original series. The situation escalated into a full public fallout, with Cattrall stating on Piers Morgan’s show that she and her co-stars were "never friends," only colleagues. She famously told SJP to "stop exploiting our tragedy" after SJP offered condolences following the death of Cattrall's brother in 2018.
The Season 2 cameo was a purely professional, one-off arrangement, with Cattrall filming her scene alone and reportedly having no interaction with SJP, Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes), Kristin Davis (Charlotte York), or showrunner Michael Patrick King. This arrangement facilitated the character's return while respecting Cattrall's boundaries.
Rejecting the Third Movie and Moving On
Cattrall's decision not to join the revival stemmed from her general feeling that she had "played it past the finish line" and her dissatisfaction with the script for the never-produced Sex and the City 3 film. She specifically mentioned finding a storyline where Miranda's teenage son sent her unsolicited nude pictures "heartbreaking" and a key factor in her decision.
For Cattrall, the choice was an "empowered decision" to end that chapter of her life. In a 2025 interview, she reflected that the character of Samantha Jones "wasn't me," and that she is now choosing projects that challenge her and allow "Kim to take over." This definitive stance confirms that while Samantha will always be loved, Cattrall is done with the New York City foursome.
The Legacy of Samantha Jones: The Ultimate Power Publicist
Despite the drama, the character of Samantha Jones remains a beacon of female empowerment, and her topical authority only grows with time. She was more than just the "sex-positive friend"; she was a fully realized, complex woman who broke boundaries and established a new archetype for women on television.
Samantha was the group's id, the one who spoke the unspeakable and lived a life of total freedom. Her storylines tackled crucial issues with a groundbreaking frankness that was rare for network television at the time, including:
- Sexual Liberation: She famously declared herself a "try-sexual" and normalized female desire and casual sex, shattering double standards and making the topic of sex a central, non-shameful part of the narrative.
- Career Focus: As a successful, self-made public relations executive, she prioritized her career and independence over marriage and children, a radical choice for a female character in the early 2000s.
- Health and Vulnerability: Her storyline battling breast cancer in later seasons showed a rare vulnerability, which she faced with her signature strength and humor, including her powerful, bald head speech at a cancer benefit.
- Loyalty: Despite her independence, her fierce loyalty to Carrie Bradshaw and her friends—sending flowers to Mr. Big’s funeral and reconnecting with Carrie via text—was the emotional core of her character.
Samantha Jones proved that a woman could be successful, sexually confident, and deeply loyal without conforming to traditional expectations. Her enduring popularity is a testament to the powerful, aspirational figure she became for millions of viewers worldwide. Her influence on pop culture and subsequent television characters is undeniable, ensuring that even with the final note of And Just Like That..., the fabulous legacy of Samantha Jones will live on.
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