It's no secret that women drove last weekend's boffo Sex and the City opening, but according to Chris Noth, the movie's got plenty for the guys too. Read on to find out more about SATC's leading man, playing New Yorkers, and how even the fashion impaired can enjoy Sex and the City. 

Q: What’s [writer/director/producer Michael Patrick King] like to work with?

A: Very laser attention on detail and knows exactly what he wants.  That said, there are some times you give him something he doesn’t expect that he enjoys, but also he’ll sculpt a performance, which I’m often not used to. I’m used to being more improvisational. I was much more improvisational on the show than in the movie, although that was tightly scripted also, but there was room sometimes for some different kinds of collaboration. 

He always included my viewpoint, but always was very helpful to me when I couldn’t see that I needed to go 2 degrees this way or 3 degrees that way or whatever. It was helpful in my performance, so I think he was the most specific he’s ever been.  He knows who these people are, he knew this story, he knew what he wanted, and I think he got from all of us the performance that he envisioned.

Q: Did you ever find, not that you're 'stigmatized" as Big because that’s not right, but is it strange to go out in public and have Big be what others see?

A: You must understand, I’ve been living with this for a long time. 2004 is when we finished and this was going crazy by 2000, 2001, so you’re talking 8 years of this stigma, and you know, I’ve got a tougher epidermis about it, so to speak. 

Does it bother me sometimes?  Yeah, because I don’t like to be watched. I’m more private than people would realize, and I’m not comfortable entertaining in my private life people’s ideas of what is purely entertainment crossing the boundaries and expecting me to, you know what I mean, continue on.

Q: But the show attracts that.

A: For whatever reasons, today in the entertainment world it’s as if you’re supposed to be doing double time or something, but then,I’m appreciative of the passions that they have for me. I just want it to stay on the screen.

Q: One of the things that I think is great is kind of how the city, New York City, loves the show so much. Are you treated differently in New York than you are anywhere else?

A: I’ve always been very fortunate because I’ve created two New York characters, one of them Mike Logan and this one, so I get a lot of great New Yorkers. I feel like they have taken me, [like] I am a New Yorker, so I feel proud to have given if I have become a part of something that can entertain. But yeah, New Yorkers know me and I like that they do. In that sense, you know, it’s enjoyable.

Q: You’re like a favorite son.

A: Yeah. I remember Jerry Orbach, my partner on Law and Order, was the face of Law and Order, and I remember the cops and everyone and the firemen gave him the salute. I know he loved that, and I feel the same way.

Q: What about Big is so enticing to a woman or what about the way he treats Carrie?

A: I think the lesson here is if you treat someone like shit you’re gonna do well...no, I’m kidding.  I actually don’t believe he did treat her bad.

Q: At first glance it’s for gays and ladies - that’s who you’ve got in the bag - but for the straight guys who are gonna get dragged by their girlfriends, what are they gonna get out of the movie? What will they enjoy?

A: Well, look, I went and saw Knocked Up and I enjoyed it immensely. I think on the same level...I understand that guys, and myself included, don’t understand a lot of the fashion stuff. We’re just not privy to that information. But I’ve been watching movies all my life about men and women who love each other and all that, and that’s a guy movie too, so I think there is plenty of stuff in there. It’s not a kiddy movie, it’s an adult romantic movie.

Q: I think beyond all the humor and the shoes and the dress or whatever, it’s really about relationships and they are very well portrayed and very real.

A: Yeah it is, it’s not a fantasy kind of movie. We’re not trying to throw stardust in your eyes.  Whatever romance happens is based and rooted in reality.